Holiday celebrations often center around alcohol, creating challenges for those in recovery and increasing risks for impaired driving and substance related incidents. Creating safer celebration environments benefits everyone in our community.

For Hosts: Offer appealing non alcoholic options and never make them an afterthought, mocktails, festive punches, and specialty sodas should be displayed prominently. Never pressure guests to drink or ask why they're abstaining. Stop serving alcohol well before the event ends, switching to coffee and dessert. Arrange designated drivers or ride share options. Keep the focus on connection and activities rather than drinking.

For Those in Recovery: The holidays can be especially challenging. Plan ahead by attending a support meeting before difficult gatherings. Bring your own non alcoholic drinks to ensure you have options. Drive yourself so you can leave when needed, or attend with a supportive friend who understands your recovery. It's perfectly acceptable to skip events that feel unsafe for your sobriety. Have a support person you can call if cravings arise.

Prevention & Support Resources:

• SMART Recovery Holiday Survival Guide
• AA Online Meetings: - Extra meetings during holidays
• Rethinking Drinking (NIH)
• MADD Safe Ride Programs
• SAMHSA Treatment Locator
• Connecticut Community for Addiction Recovery- Local recovery support

Remember: Celebration doesn't require intoxication. Focus on creating meaningful connections and memories that everyone can enjoy safely.

This mocktail recipe book was created as a

collaborative effort across our coalition, uniting diverse perspectives, cultural inspirations, and a shared commitment to promoting healthier social environments.

These alcohol-free recipe are adult alternatives to traditional cocktails. Our goal is not only to provide delicious options,

but also to support a culture where everyone

feels welcome and included. By choosing to

serve mocktails, we encourage conversations, connections, and meaningful moments—all centered around wellness and accessibility. We invite you to explore these pages, experiment with new flavors, and enjoy the vibrant possibilities of alcohol-free mixology. Cheers to healthier choices, shared inspiration, and the collective spirit that made this book possible. -The Stamford Prevention Council

With energy drinks increasingly marketed to young people through social media, gaming platforms, and extreme sports sponsorships, it's crucial to understand the risks these beverages pose to our youth. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine and the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, energy drinks contain high levels of caffeine—often 200-500mg per serving, compared to 35mg in a typical soda.

Key Concerns for Youth:

• Hidden caffeine content: Many energy drinks don't clearly label caffeine amounts, and additional stimulants like guarana and yerba mate add even more caffeine that's not always reflected on labels
• Serious health risks: Emergency room visits related to energy drinks have doubled in recent years, with symptoms including rapid heartbeat, high blood pressure, anxiety, sleep disruption, and in severe cases, seizures
• Mixing with alcohol: A dangerous trend among teens and young adults that masks intoxication levels while maintaining the same impairment
• Gateway behavior: Regular energy drink consumption in adolescence is associated with increased risk of alcohol and substance use

What You Can Do: Talk with young people about healthier ways to boost energy—adequate sleep (8-10 hours for teens), regular physical activity, balanced nutrition, and proper hydration with water. Help them understand that the temporary energy boost from these drinks comes with real health risks and often leads to a "crash" that leaves them feeling worse than before.

For more info:
Energy Drinks and Kids: What You Need to Know

National Center for Complementary Integrative Health on Energy Drinks

Thanks to one of our coalition's sectors, Daydream Communications, for the creation of the posters, in collaboration with another sector, the Stamford Downtown Special Services District, these posters will be hung at various restaurants and bar establishments downtown Stamford for the holidays.

Thanks to Daydream Communications for the creation and partnership with these posters, they will be displayed at the Stamford train station platforms for the holiday season to bring menteal health awareness and 988 inforomation to travelers.

Get into the holiday spirit by joining in on a festive tree lighting near you!

We’ve gathered the dates for all the popular Christmas tree lightings around Stamford, so you won’t miss a single twinkling bulb or shining star.

Mark your calendars and start humming your favorite Christmas carols!

Ferguson library hosts a wide variety of activities for adults, teens and kids. For more information go to Ferguson Library Website and click on events. All activities are free.

The surprising science of adolescent brains.

Neuroscientist Jennifer Pfeifer digs into the fascinating brain changes, driving young people’s behavior during the critical years of adolescence. She debunks some of the biggest misunderstandings about teens — including puberty, hormones and the impact of social media on mental health — and shows how to support kids during this period of growth and possibility. (15 min Video)