Date & Time: Thursday, December 11, 2025 • 3:00–4:30 PM ET Managing Alcohol Use During the Holidays Register HERE. Credits: Available; counts toward DEA’s 8-hour training requirement

Event Description: The holiday season can be a challenging time for managing alcohol use. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, consumption often increases due to family dynamics, social gatherings, holiday traditions, or feelings of isolation, loneliness, or stress. Managing Alcohol Use During the Holidays is a virtual training designed to help participants understand why alcohol use can escalate during this season and provide practical strategies to reduce consumption and prevent harm. The session also explores effective ways to talk about alcohol use with peers, clients, or oneself during this high-risk time of year.

Intended Audience: This training is designed for providers, nurses, social workers, psychologists, peer supports, other clinical staff, and non-clinicians interested in understanding and addressing seasonal increases in alcohol use.

Learning Objectives: By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Discuss potential causes for increased alcohol consumption during the holidays.

• Identify at least three interventions to reduce the harm of alcohol use.

• Apply strategies for discussing alcohol use, reducing consumption, and avoiding triggers.

Presenters:

• Judith Austin, MSN, PMHNP-BC, CARN-AP – Clinical nurse educator at Boston Medical Center’s Grayken Center for Addiction TTA; board-certified Psychiatric-Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with experience in inpatient substance use disorder care.

• Azure Bergeron, BSN, RN, CARN – Registered nurse at Boston Medical Center with over 20 years of experience in trauma and intensive care; specialized in addiction nursing.

• Amy Fitzpatrick, MD – Assistant professor at Boston University School of Medicine; primary care physician at Boston Medical Center, specializing in addiction medicine and OBAT.

• Al Ortiz, CARC – Certified recovery coach and program manager of Recovery Support Services at Holyoke Health Center; advocate and community educator in recovery.

Sponsor & Funding: Sponsored by Boston Medical Center Grayken Center for Addiction TTA and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Bureau of Substance Addiction Services (DPH/BSAS). Funding for out-of-state attendees provided by the Opioid Response Network (ORN).