IT'S the holiday season in Bermuda, which means the annual onslaught of office Christmas parties and family get-togethers. It's a season of overindulgence in our favourite excesses - whether it be cookies or cocktails. December, though, can also be a nightmare for those with alcohol and drug addiction issues or even for those people who take merrymaking a little too far each year. Bad decisions and naughty behaviour is abound over the holidays - but when does it go from party drinking to a drinking problem? Gita Blakeney-Saltus, the new head of Caron Bermuda, a leader in addiction treatment services sat down with Mid-Ocean News reporter Lindsay Kelly and photographer Akil Simmons to talk about her new appointment, tips for getting through the holidays and what her organisation can do to help those in need.

Q: Tell me about Caron.

A: Caron has been in existence in Bermuda since July 2007. Caron Bermuda is a subsidiary of the Caron Treatment Centers in the U.S., which is a leading provider of treatment for drug and alcohol dependency with over 50 years in the field. Caron offers medical detoxification, gender and age-specific primary rehabilitation, relapse treatment and extended care for adults and adolescents, outpatient care, educational programmes for family members and others whose lives have been impacted by addiction, life enrichment workshops for individuals in all stages of addiction, and student assistance services.

Our major residential treatment centers are in Wernersville, PA and Boca Raton, Florida.

Q: What services does Caron provide in Bermuda?

A: We have three components in terms of our services. The first is that since we don't do primary care in Bermuda, we assess and refer to our Caron treatment facilities in the U.S. The second prong would be the continuity of care or case management once an individual returns to Bermuda from one of Caron's treatment centers. The third component would be stabilising families in crisis so working with families who are affected by the person who has the disease of addiction.

Q: Do you focus on just alcohol or all types of addictions?

A: We focus on all substances. That includes alcohol, illegal drugs like cocaine or marijuana and also prescription medications. The great thing about Caron Bermuda is that we are able to provide people in need with one-stop shopping. Our services allow people the opportunity of receiving first-class treatment, access all the varied services that Caron provides and then come back to Bermuda and have a continuity of care through our clinical services and Jennifer Vargesko-Burgess, and through video conferencing services. Our video conferencing technology allows our patients to have the continuity of care with the counsellor they worked with while at a treatment center in Florida or Pennsylvania so they don't have to leave Bermuda to feel that connection.

Q: It's the holiday season - how does all the parties and get-togethers affect those with addiction issues?

A: The holidays can be the most challenging time of the year for people who have substance abuse or addiction issues. Caron, as an organisation, is trying to stress that we are not anti-alcohol but we want to ensure that if you decide to drink that you take care of yourself and others and that you are socially accountable and responsible.

Q: It's the holiday season though - parties and alcohol is part of the territory. How do you know when it's getting too "merry"?

A: Clearly every individual has his or her own threshold of alcohol intake. And, of course everyone thinks they know better than everyone else. We did a poll in the U.S. that was designed to determine the effects of alcohol during the holiday season, how people observe their colleagues and the correlation between bad behavior and the holiday period. One question was about the number of drinks people deem to be acceptable at a work holiday party and that number turned out to be three. But what we are seeing is that some people can have just one drink and find that even that amount is too much so it is very much an individual approach to consuming alcohol.

We have to be more responsible when we are out with our friends and recognise the signals that someone has had too much. There are physical signs such as poor coordination and behavioral signs such as aggression or a personality deviation, as I call it. Blood shot and watery eyes, speech pattern changes - these are all signals that someone has clearly had too much to drink.

Q: Is there one problem that seems to be the most pervasive in Bermuda?

A: While I have only been with Caron for two weeks, I think the social drinking in Bermuda has been so interwoven into our society that I'm going to venture to say that alcohol, because it is a legal substance, it is probably the most abused substance. You are not necessarily going to be penalised for drinking like you would if you got caught with a substance like cocaine or marijuana, which come with serious repercussions.

What we have also found though through our research is that prescription drugs is another area of real concern. If not used correctly, these substances can be addictive. Couple that with what you can do online, sometimes you don't have to go to physician to be able to get these powerful medications. This all adds another layer to the overall problem.

Q: What tips can you give people who see friends, co-workers or family members drinking too much over the holidays?

A: There are several tips, including using the buddy system, don't forget to eat -having something in your stomach when you consume alcohol greatly reduces its effects. Also, have an exit strategy - when you see people getting revved up and getting rowdy and you realise that perhaps this is too much for you to control, separate yourself from the activity and make it an earlier night. Be responsible for yourself and your friends. One of the ancilliary things that can happen with having too much to drink at a holiday party is driving while intoxicated which brings another component to this issue that can result in injury or even death.

And, lastly know when to get help. If you realise after the holiday season that you or someone you love is still drinking excessively, ask for help, speak to someone. We have a clinical person on island that you can speak with in a safe and confidential environment.

Q: Do you think the results from the survey Caron did with Harris Interactive in the U.S. (see sidebars below) are indicative of Bermuda as well?

A: I think Bermuda is a microcosm of what is happening in the U.S. I would venture to say that the information that came out of the survey is very accurate and representative of Bermuda. In Bermuda we probably have more bars per square mile than we do churches or equal to. Essentially we have a lot of facilities that serve alcohol and it gets back that socially acceptable behaviour that happens over the holidays. I think we have a culture that encourages and celebrates having fun with alcohol and we revel in the idea that we, as Bermudians, know how to party! So I would imagine we are very on par with the results of the survey.

Q: You've been at Caron Bermuda for two weeks now, how's it going?

A: So far, week two it has been a learning curve but meaningful work already. It feels really soulful to me and this position feels like it was my destiny. It's what I'm meant to do. I served on the Board for Caron Bermuda since its inception in 2007 and when the opportunity arose to assume this position, it was the right time for me. It feels right.

Q: If there was one goal you want to achieve with Caron Bermuda, what would it be?

A: We are trying to change that perception and mindset. I'd like to continue to develop community awareness, community advocacy and work collaboratively with other organisations to collectively change the mindset and work for the betterment of our community.

For more information about Caron Bermuda, visit www.caronbermuda.org or call 236.0823.