Early in the pandemic during lockdowns, some people would joke about how many empty bottles of wine and other alcohol they would see in their neighbor’s recycling bin. Given the level of stress and anxiety brought on by the pandemic, we’ve seen firsthand at Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) how jokes can quickly turn to serious concerns.
“People would talk about how they got used to having a glass of wine each night while sitting at home,” said Staela Keegan, MSW (Master of Social Work), LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), LCADC (Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor), and Clinical Director at NFSB. “Then one glass turns into two and that casual drink eventually turns into a problem.”