Editor’s Note: The National Press Club Journalism Institute is committed to providing journalists resources and connections that support their personal and professional lives. Continuing in 2026, we are collaborating with several groups to widen those networks of support. We invited Bill Nichols to share how the Journalists Recovery Network can help other journalists navigate recovery.
This January, the federal government updated the Dietary Guidelines to say people should consume less alcohol “for better overall health” and “limit alcohol beverages.”
But for the first time in 50 years, the guidelines offer no clear limits on how much men and women can safely drink.
For those of us who struggle with substance misuse, or those who are concerned they might have a problem, the avalanche of peer pressure, conflicting information, and algorithm overload can lead to the predictable result of just doing nothing.
This is less a problem for those of us who are in recovery and more of an issue for those who are wondering if they might have a problem or who may be looking for reliable information to use to make decisions on how they might find healthier ways to deal with stress and, increasingly for reporters and editors, work-related trauma.
And so, what to do?
For those of you in newsrooms wondering or worrying about the role mood-altering substances are playing in your life, Dry January can be a useful tool. See how it goes without alcohol or other substances. Take an honest appraisal of how dependent (or not) you may be. If you’re like most of us who have adopted that path for all 12 months of the year, you very likely may find some startling insights on just how much you’re leaning on mood-altering crutches and how much better you feel without them.
And then if you do think you need further help or advice, reach out for it to people you can trust — not the internet. Your doctor/therapist/psychiatrist. Chances are very high that there’s a recovering person in your newsroom; take a chance and reach out to them. They will be delighted to share their experience, strength, and hope.
Reach out to us at the Journalists Recovery Network. Our group is composed of people who approach recovery from a variety of different angles, and you can find someone you’ll be comfortable with:
- Interested in a 12-step program? We can help.
- Desperate to begin recovery but want nothing to do with a 12-step program? We’ve got you covered there too.
2026 has already begun with a cascade of news that is continuing to push the brave and committed journalists trying to cover it to their limits. Take time to take care of yourself and take stock. Ignore the noise. Embrace the help that is all around you.
For anyone seeking support with substance abuse, please reach out to the Journalists Recovery Network anytime. Click here for additional resources.
Tags: Self-care