February often asks a lot of people.
February 6, 2026 - The holidays are over, the days are still short, and winter has a way of settling in deeper than expected. For many families in Deep East Texas, February is when bills keep stacking up, routines feel heavier, and stress hasn't let up as people hoped it would.
February is also American Heart Month, a time when we are encouraged to think about heart health. People usually talk about heart health in terms of food and exercise. What gets less attention is how stress and constant fatigue wear people down, which is often when alcohol or drugs start to feel like a way to cope.
What many people don't realize is how closely substance use and heart health are connected. Alcohol and certain drugs can raise blood pressure, disrupt heart rhythm, weaken the heart muscle, and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. Over time, even routine or socially accepted uses can take a toll.
The effects are rarely limited to one person. Families notice the changes. Conversations grow shorter or more tense. Parents sense something is off but struggle to put it into words. Teenagers may try to fit in or escape feelings they do not yet know how to manage.
Genuine change usually doesn't arrive all at once. It shows up when people start noticing patterns they have learned to live with, like conversations they avoid, habits that are harder to manage than they used to be, or stress that never really lets up.
February doesn't have to be about big gestures or sudden change. For many people, it starts by noticing the signs they have been pushing aside, whether that's ongoing stress, health concerns, or changes at home that feel harder to ignore. In Deep East Texas, some families choose to reach out to the Alcohol and Drug Awareness Council, often starting with a simple phone call to 1-800-445-8562.
Taking care of your heart also means paying attention to how you cope when things feel heavy. Small decisions, made consistently, can make a real difference over time.
ADAC serves the following counties: Angelina, Hardin, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Shelby, Trinity, and Tyler.
