Across the country – millions of Brits – particularly those who overindulged over the festive period – are attempting to go sober for the first month of the year.
But speaking to Daily Star Online exclusively, Ian Hamilton, a leading health expert, revealed his concern for participants.
Ian wants to warn people giving up alcohol for a month, to steer clear of using other drugs to compensate.
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“While people might have a preference to a particular drug, what we see in treatment and research is that people are poly-drug users”
Ian Hamilton
He said: “While people might have a preference to a particular drug, what we see in treatment and research is that people are poly-drug users.
“That includes things like tobacco, but what’s more likely with [giving up] alcohol is people misusing benzodiazepines and diazepam, which have similar effects.”
Benzodiazepines and diazepam are types of medications known as tranquillisers. Familiar names include Valium and Xanax, which are often used to help induce sleep.
“If used properly, they can help people ease off alcohol, but of course that’s not how people use them,“ he added.
Ian is a lecturer in mental wellbeing in the Department of Health Sciences at the University of York, with an interest in the relationship between substance use and mental health.
He has previously voiced his concern with detox campaigns like Dry January, particularly with social groups prone to alcohol dependency.
And in another exclusive interview with Daily Star Online, Ian revealed that casual drinkers should also steer clear.
The academic’s main concern is with participants post-detox behaviour.
He stated: “People think having done Dry January, that’s it, job done and now for the rest of the year I can just return to my normal habits.”
Dry January is a campaign run by charity Alcohol Concern and sees more than 3 million British participants a year.