Overdoses rise during the holidays, and this year could be especially tough. Experts urge caution.

It’s a delicate dance around the holiday season. Even people who don’t have substance use disorder tend to use substances in a very different way around the holidays. But if you identify concerns about a family member, it would be important to have a conversation with that family member around substance use from a place of love and compassion, not blame or shame. With adequate treatment, recovery is not only possible but probable. It’s not a hopeless condition.”