{"id":17317,"date":"2026-02-06T09:25:55","date_gmt":"2026-02-06T14:25:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/?page_id=17317"},"modified":"2026-02-06T09:25:55","modified_gmt":"2026-02-06T14:25:55","slug":"hibernate-healthy-the-rappahannock-rapidan-health-district-gives-tips-to-combat-substance-use-disorder-this-winter","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/2026-regional-news-releases\/hibernate-healthy-the-rappahannock-rapidan-health-district-gives-tips-to-combat-substance-use-disorder-this-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"Hibernate Healthy: The Rappahannock-Rapidan\u00a0Health District Gives Tips to Combat Substance Use Disorder This Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>February 6, 2026<br \/>\n<strong>Media Contact: <\/strong>Dr. Zelalem Attlee, <u><a href=\"mailto:Zelalem.Attlee@vdh.virginia.gov\">Zelalem.Attlee@vdh.virginia.gov<\/a>.<\/u><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Hibernate Healthy: The Rappahannock-Rapidan\u00a0Health District Gives Tips to Combat Substance Use Disorder This Winter<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>WARRENTON, Va. \u2013 \u00a0Winter is often a time of reflection and resolution, but for some, it\u2019s a time when substance use <u><a href=\"https:\/\/pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/articles\/PMC6679791\/\">increases<\/a><\/u>. The Rappahannock-Rapidan\u00a0Health District reminds the community that <u><a href=\"https:\/\/dbhds.virginia.gov\/behavioral-health\/behavioral-health-wellness\/\">substance use disorder<\/a><\/u>\u00a0(SUD) is a <u><a href=\"https:\/\/suda.virginia.gov\/reports\/public\">critical issue<\/a><\/u> highlighted during this time of year, particularly as individuals and communities set intentions for <u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/content\/uploads\/sites\/76\/2022\/01\/Virginia-Rural-Health-Plan_10-Behavioral-Health.pdf\">improvement and recovery<\/a><\/u>.<\/p>\n<p>Winter months often bring unique challenges that can increase the risk of drug use. Shorter daylight hours, colder temperatures, and reduced opportunities for outdoor activities can lead to feelings of isolation and seasonal depression. Social gatherings and celebrations where substances may be present can create an environment where individuals are more vulnerable to relapses or misuse. Understanding these risks is essential for developing strategies to maintain sobriety and support overall well-being during this season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEvery life lost to overdose is a tragedy that ripples through families, schools, and workplaces,\u201d said Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District Director J. Carr, M.D. &#8220;Our commitment to prevention, treatment, and recovery remains strong, and we urge everyone to learn how to recognize and respond to an overdose, especially during the winter months when stress and isolation can increase risk.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The Rappahannock-Rapidan\u00a0Health District share tips to stay resilient:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Stay connected with friends, family, and recovery groups.<\/li>\n<li>Anticipate high-risk situations and rehearse responses.<\/li>\n<li>Set boundaries for social events.<\/li>\n<li>Remain aware of personal triggers that are brought on by large social gatherings, especially when alcohol is served.<\/li>\n<li>Substance use struggles often happen together with mood disorders like depression or anxiety increasing vulnerability during stressful times in winter.<\/li>\n<li>Maximize daylight exposure, ensure proper sleep, exercise regularly, and eat balanced meals.<\/li>\n<li>Replace substance-related habits with comforting alternatives like tea, journaling, or meditation. Use journaling to identify patterns and act early on warning signs.<\/li>\n<li>Join support groups or volunteer to boost mood and structure.<\/li>\n<li>Connect with professional help if needed.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you have drug or alcohol concerns, mental health struggles, emotional distress, or just need someone to talk to, call, text, or chat the <u><a href=\"https:\/\/988lifeline.org\/\">988 Suicide &amp; Crisis Lifeline<\/a><\/u>. A trained crisis worker can provide immediate help 24 hours a day, seven days a week.<\/p>\n<p>If you have questions about SUD, contact the Rappahannock-Rapidan Health District at (<u><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rrhd.org\">www.rrhd.org<\/a><\/u>).<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"># # #<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>February 6, 2026 Media Contact: Dr. Zelalem Attlee, Zelalem.Attlee@vdh.virginia.gov. Hibernate Healthy: The Rappahannock-Rapidan\u00a0Health District Gives Tips to Combat Substance Use Disorder This Winter WARRENTON, Va. \u2013 \u00a0Winter is often a time of reflection and resolution, but for some, it\u2019s a time when substance use increases. The Rappahannock-Rapidan\u00a0Health District reminds the community that substance use disorder\u00a0(SUD) [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":444,"featured_media":0,"parent":16853,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"tags":[1511,569,1509,1510,709,1508,60],"class_list":["post-17317","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","tag-alcohol","tag-drug-overdose","tag-drugs","tag-emotional-distress","tag-mental-health","tag-substance-abuse-disorder","tag-suicide"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Hibernate Healthy: The Rappahannock-Rapidan\u00a0Health District Gives Tips to Combat Substance Use Disorder This Winter - Newsroom<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.vdh.virginia.gov\/news\/public-relations-contacts\/2026-regional-news-releases\/hibernate-healthy-the-rappahannock-rapidan-health-district-gives-tips-to-combat-substance-use-disorder-this-winter\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Hibernate Healthy: The Rappahannock-Rapidan\u00a0Health District Gives Tips to Combat Substance Use Disorder This Winter - Newsroom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"February 6, 2026 Media Contact: Dr. Zelalem Attlee, Zelalem.Attlee@vdh.virginia.gov. Hibernate Healthy: The Rappahannock-Rapidan\u00a0Health District Gives Tips to Combat Substance Use Disorder This Winter WARRENTON, Va. \u2013 \u00a0Winter is often a time of reflection and resolution, but for some, it\u2019s a time when substance use increases. 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