November 14, 2025
The holidays bring a predictable spike in substance use and depression, and FarmWeek turned to Dr. Sherma Morton, Eleanor Health’s National Medical Director, to explain why, and what actually helps. Holiday addiction triggers aren’t random, Morton says, they repeat every year on a calendar people can see coming, which means the coping plan can be built in advance instead of scrambled together in the moment.
“Substance abuse disorder is an illness, just like diabetes or high blood pressure.”
— Dr. Sherma Morton, National Medical Director, Eleanor Health
Rural communities carry a specific version of this problem. Support is often there, but so is visibility, and the fear of being seen at a local meeting or support group can keep people from using resources that would otherwise help. Morton points to telehealth as a real answer to that specific barrier, care from a provider states away removes the risk of running into a neighbor in the waiting room.
“You are not flawed. You are not broken. You can get help.”
— Dr. Sherma Morton, National Medical Director, Eleanor Health
She was direct about the framing too: substance abuse disorder is an illness, just like diabetes or high blood pressure, not a character flaw and not something willpower alone resolves. For friends and family, her advice is to notice changes without judgment, “I notice you seem different” lands better than “you are drinking more,” and to remember that caregivers need boundaries of their own.
Her message to anyone struggling this season was simple: you are not flawed, you are not broken, you can get help. Eleanor Health’s virtual program is built for exactly this kind of year-round, judgment-free support. [Learn more about Eleanor Health’s online addiction treatment →]
About Eleanor Health
Media Contact: marketing@eleanorhealth.com
Eleanor Health delivers comprehensive, evidence-based care for individuals affected by substance use disorder, alcohol use disorder, and mental health conditions. With a whole-person, trauma-informed approach, Eleanor Health is committed to improving the lives of its members, their families, and their communities.
