Launched in the United Kingdom by the organization Alcohol Change UK, Dry January® was first introduced to France in 2020. This initiative aims to encourage people to stop drinking for a month and to re-evaluate their relationship with alcohol.
A record 4.5 million French people signed up and took part in the Défi de Janvier in 2024. Many French associations have now joined the movement and are helping people face up to their addiction. And it couldn’t be easier to take control of your drinking with TRY Dry, the Dry January® free app.
This month we put the spotlight on Addict’AIDE one of the organisations supporting Dry January® in France. It provides help and support to anyone young or old who is battling any kind of addictive behaviour.
Purpose & Objectives of Dry January® in France
In 2014 Professor Michel Reynaud, a French psychiatrist specializing in addiction, decided to create a fund with the objective of bringing together all the parties affected by and trying to control addiction. Patients, families, health professionals, scientists, associations and business leaders would unite for a common goal. To better prevent and fight against all forms of addiction.
Tools for Success
Over the past 10 years, Addict’AIDE has launched many initiatives:
- The creation of the Addict’AIDE- The village of addictions web portal, a single platform which centralizes all the help and resources available to people battling addiction.
- Offering support to associations such as France Patients Experts Addictions, which enable people who have experienced and recovered from addiction, to undertake a course and become certified experts. With the goal of helping others suffering from addictive behaviours.
- The opening of an anonymous forum where anyone can be heard, guided and supported by these certified experts.
- Undertaking a major study entitled Addiction among the young, a focus on 14-24 year-olds
- The launch of the web portal Addict’AIDE Pro to address and prevent addiction in the workplace.
- And of course the promotion of Dry January® (le Défi de Janvier) in France.
Benefits of Dry January®
To those who doubt the long-term effects of Dry January®, the benefits are clear. People who sign up usually consume less alcohol in the months following the campaign. By changing their drinking habits, participants discover a new freedom. The freedom to pick and choose when to have a drink or to order a mocktail. And the freedom to resist the pressure of engaging in social drinking.
View more Charities in France.
