Navigating Thanksgiving in Addiction Recovery: A Guide for Families and Individuals

Written by: Content Marketing Team

Clinically Reviewed By: Donnita Smart, LCDC

Last Reviewed: November 1, 2021

Why Thanksgiving Can Bring Its Own Challenges

For some people, Thanksgiving is the first major family gathering of the holiday season, which can bring old roles and unresolved conflict back to the surface. Football watch parties and tailgating gatherings often center on alcohol, and extended family visits or travel can disrupt a normal routine, meeting schedule, or sleep. For families supporting a loved one, the holiday can also surface tension that’s easy to overlook the rest of the year.

Supporting a Loved One Who’s Struggling

“I think the holidays are challenging for a couple of reasons,” Discovery Point Retreat Clinical Director Greg Powers says, “One being this is the time when we gather with all of our family, or sometimes we don’t have family. And that’s a sore spot or pressure point for some people. When that happens, we seek out comfort in other places. Ultimately, that’s probably why we see more of an influx of substance use during the holidays.”

Societal expectations can be one factor in why some people struggle during this time of year. Not everyone’s holiday plans involve family gatherings filled with laughter and love, and tension or conflict within the family system can make attending these gatherings a difficult experience.

“We would all like to feel like we’ve got the textbook loving family, and some people are fortunate that they do have that,” Powers says. “There are a lot of families that are not like that. There’s conflict and history there that causes all those negative feelings and memories to resurface. We may try to have that family connection and do things together as a family; sometimes it just doesn’t work.”

Being confronted by a difficult family environment during the holidays can be distressing. The resulting feelings can be complex: wanting love, comfort, and validation from family while also recognizing ways they may have caused harm. For some people, being around family can also highlight the ways their own behavior has affected the people they love, which may increase distress, urges to use, or the temptation to rely on substances as a coping strategy.

For parents, family members, and loved ones on the outside looking in, the tension around the holidays often centers on how to help without pushing a loved one further away. This sense of helplessness can show up as anger, frustration, guilt, or blame.

“Moms and dads, we see the best in our kids no matter what,” Powers says. “And so maybe it comes across as arguing with somebody or causing a fight because, ‘I don’t want you drinking,’ or, ‘I don’t want you using.’ In reality, this is their love coming across, going, ‘I just want the best for you. I want you to be safe. I want you to be with us as a family and to be able to enjoy us as much as we want to enjoy you.’ It’s heartbreak from a parent’s perspective.”

How to Talk to a Loved One About Getting Help

“It sounds kind of simplistic, but honestly, it would be as simple as, ‘hey, you know that this is an issue. Do you want to get help? Are you ready for that now?'” Powers says. “Sometimes they’re going to say, ‘yeah, I know it’s a problem, and yes, I need to get help.’ And then at that point, you start searching out, and you find places like Discovery Point Retreat and go, ‘okay, let’s get you in here and get you the help that you want.'”

“Sometimes they’re going to say, ‘I don’t know. I’m not ready.’ Then talk to them and say, ‘okay, well, what is it going to take to get you to that point?’ Sometimes it’s, ‘I need to take care of business. I need to figure out what I’m going to do about work,’ or the pets or whatever. There are always going to be roadblocks or excuses as to why I can’t go and get help right now. That’s why they haven’t done it thus far. And as a loved one, what you’re there to do is to support and go, ‘Okay. Well, let’s figure that out. So you need to figure out what to do with the pets? Okay. Bring them over here and I’ll take care of them while you’re gone.'”

Confrontational pressure or ultimatums can escalate conflict and may make someone less willing to talk in that moment. A calm, supportive approach can help keep communication open, although a person does not have to be fully self-motivated at the beginning for treatment to be beneficial. When there is an immediate safety concern, families should seek professional or emergency help rather than waiting for someone to feel ready. “Your job as that loved one is to show them, ‘this is what we all want, and I know that you do as well, and I’m going to be here. I’m going to support you no matter what. This is going to be difficult, but let’s do this together.’ And 9 times out of 10, that’s what they’re needing to hear,” Powers says. Powers is describing a pattern he has observed in his clinical experience, not a measured response rate or treatment outcome.

Considering treatment during a holiday can bring practical and emotional concerns. A confidential conversation with a licensed provider can help someone understand available options, timing, and any immediate safety needs without obligating them to enter a particular program.

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For the Person in Recovery: Getting Through the Day Itself

If you’re the one in recovery, it can help to plan a few specifics before Thanksgiving Day arrives rather than deciding everything in the moment. Arrange your own transportation, such as a trusted driver or rideshare, so you can leave a gathering when you’re ready. The National Safety Council estimates that 35% of Thanksgiving holiday period traffic fatalities involve an alcohol-impaired driver (2025 estimate), one more reason a sober ride plan is worth arranging in advance.^[1]

If football watching or tailgating is part of your family’s tradition, it can help to know ahead of time whether alcohol will be a big part of that setting, and to have an alternative plan, whether that’s bringing your own non-alcoholic drink, offering to host a dry activity, or stepping outside for a walk if things start to feel like too much.

For multi-day visits or overnight stays, it can help to identify a quiet space in advance and to keep your support contact, whether that’s a sponsor, therapist, or peer, reachable throughout the trip. You don’t owe anyone an explanation for declining a drink: “I’m driving,” “not today,” or simply “no, thank you” are complete answers on their own.

If a Return to Use Happens

If a return to use happens, contact a trusted support person and a licensed healthcare professional or treatment provider promptly. A sponsor or peer can help you reconnect with support, while a qualified clinician can help evaluate health and safety concerns and determine what care may be appropriate. A setback does not erase the progress you’ve already built.

It is also important to know that opioid tolerance can decrease after a period of abstinence or reduced use. Returning to an amount used previously can therefore increase the risk of an opioid overdose. If an overdose is suspected, call 911 immediately. Give naloxone if opioid involvement is possible or unknown, follow the product directions for additional doses if needed, place the person on their side if they are unconscious, and stay with them until emergency help arrives.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if my family doesn’t understand what I’m going through?

Not every family will know how to respond right away, and it does not necessarily mean that they do not care. It’s reasonable to set boundaries on how long you stay and what topics you’re willing to discuss, and to have a support person or backup contact identified in advance for a visit that feels uncertain.

How do I bring up treatment with a loved one without starting a fight?

A direct, low-pressure question, such as asking if they’re ready to get help, may be easier to hear than an ultimatum. Hesitation may reflect fear, ambivalence, practical barriers, previous treatment experiences, or simply not feeling ready to decide. Staying supportive rather than forcing the issue can keep the door open.

Are there sober Thanksgiving or holiday support options in the Dallas-Fort Worth area?

Dallas, Ennis, Waxahachie, and other North Texas communities may have recovery-community meetings or support groups around Thanksgiving. Meeting schedules and holiday events can change each year, so check the official meeting locator for the recovery organization you use, SAMHSA’s FindTreatment.gov locator, or contact Discovery Point Retreat directly for current information.

References

[1] National Safety Council. Injury Facts and Thanksgiving holiday period news releases. Alcohol-impaired driver involvement in Thanksgiving holiday period traffic fatalities, 2025 estimate (35%).

Crisis and Support Resources: For suicidal thoughts, emotional distress, or a substance-use crisis, call or text 988 for free, confidential support available 24/7. For substance-use treatment information and referrals, call SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357), available 24/7 in English and Spanish. If someone has overdosed or is in immediate medical danger, call 911 immediately and give naloxone if it’s available.

This article is for general education and is not medical advice. If you have questions about your own health or a loved one’s, talk with a licensed healthcare provider.

Sources

Reviewed By: Donnita Smart, LCDC Executive Director - Ennis

Donnita Smart is the Executive Director of Discovery Point Retreat with over a decade of leadership experience in addiction treatment and recovery services. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Social Work from the University of North Texas at Dallas and is a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor, with a proven track record in managing multi-site programs, regulatory compliance, and strategic growth. Donnita leads with compassion, accountability, and collaboration, driving programs that support lasting recovery for individuals and families.

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