Maybe not all people in drug treatment during Christmas time are Christians, but many still celebrate Christmas in one way or another. Spending Christmas in Drug Rehab can be very depressing, but it doesn’t have to be. It’s just another day, and addiction treatment facilities do their best to make Christmas in drug rehab enjoyable, but they also strive to emphasize to their clients that it is just another day in treatment, another day they have to try and stay sober. Many people in drug rehab during Christmas want to go home to their families, but we strongly recommend that they don’t. Going back in to the family system is not advised. It can be a strong trigger for alcoholics and addicts to return to their families during Christmas time. We tell our clients to relax and remind them that if they miss one Christmas while they’re in drug rehab it’s not the end of the world. There will be many Christmas’s after drug rehab.
Author
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Paul Alexander is the CEO, President & Founder of Northbound Treatment Network in Newport Beach, California. He believes wholeheartedly in transformational leadership, organizational health and effective, fully integrated substance use disorder and mental health treatment. With over 27 years of experience in behavioral healthcare, Paul has extensive knowledge of “in vivo” treatment modalities, clinical development, operations, strategy, marketing and financial planning. He has been widely recognized for his development of collegiate-based residential treatment programs for students in recovery and authored a research study at The University of California confirming this modality’s effectiveness.
Paul’s comprehensive professional experience, willingness to innovate, and emphasis on organizational health are vital factors in Northbound’s continued success. Paul received his Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist training at Saddleback College in Mission Viejo, CA, and was awarded Outstanding Alumni Service Award in 2002. Paul holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminology, Law and Society, Summa Cum Laude, from University of California, Irvine, and a Juris Doctorate degree from Loyola Law School of Los Angeles. Paul currently serves on The National Association of Addiction Treatment Providers (NAATP) board. In addition, he serves on The Family Recovery Foundation board and The CarePossible board in Orange County; both organizations are committed to raising funds for family recovery and treatment for former military personnel. Paul is in recovery himself and lives in Orange County with his wife Silvana and his two young sons, Noah and Dean.
