A new year brings new resolutions, including the increasingly popular trend of ‘Dry January.’ The viral movement encourages people to quit alcohol or reduce their drinking for an entire month. On December 17, 2025, SciLine interviewed Dr. Katie Witkiewitz, a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of New Mexico.
Declared interests: Dr. Witkiewitz serves as a consultant and as a Scientific Advisory Board member for Eli Lilly and Company.
TV bundle includes:
Soundbite (SOT)
VOSOT script (can be used as-is or modified)
Raw, full-length interview video & log with timecodes (upon request via form below)
Data
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Click for VOSOT script (can be used as-is or modified)
ANCHOR
A NEW YEAR OFTEN COMES WITH NEW RESOLUTIONS… AND FOR MANY PEOPLE… THAT INCLUDES TAKING PART IN “DRY JANUARY.”
VO
THE POPULAR MOVEMENT ENCOURAGES PEOPLE TO CUT OUT… OR CUT BACK ON ALCOHOL FOR THE ENTIRE MONTH.
DOCTOR KATIE WITKIEWITZ IS A DISTINGUISHED PROFESSOR OF PSYCHOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO.
SHE SAYS ALCOHOL IS TOXIC… AND REGULAR DRINKING INCREASES THE RISK OF LIVER DISEASE… DEMENTIA… AND SOME TYPES OF CANCER.
BUT SHE SAYS EVEN A SHORT BREAK… LIKE DRY JANUARY… BRINGS QUICK BENEFITS… INCLUDING BETTER SLEEP… CLEARER SKIN… AND MORE ENERGY.
SHE SAYS IT ALSO HELPS PEOPLE TAKE A CLOSER LOOK AT THEIR DRINKING HABITS.
SOT Duration: 0:36
Super: Dr. Katie Witkiewitz – Professor, University of New Mexico
“Dry January can be a really great opportunity for individuals to look at their relationship with alcohol, see if that is a problem and if it’s really hard for someone to stop drinking in dry January or to reduce their drinking and kind of stay with those reduced drinking limits, then that might be a signal that it’s time to get some help and get some support, and there are treatments that work. And so dry January can be a really nice way to kind of help us evaluate our relationship with drinking and see whether it’s serving us and whether maybe we need help and support in reducing or stopping our drinking.”
VO
DOCTOR WITKIEWITZ SAYS IT’S IMPORTANT TO APPROACH DRY JANUARY SAFELY.
SHE SAYS PEOPLE WHO DRINK HEAVILY AND FEEL SICK WHENEVER THEY STOP… LIKE SHAKINESS… NAUSEA… OR HALLUCINATIONS… SHOULD TALK WITH A DOCTOR BEFORE QUITTING ALCOHOL ALL AT ONCE.
Raw, full-length interview covers:
What impact limiting alcohol has on people, including benefits such as better sleep, improved mood, and reduced risk for certain cancers;
How a month off drinking or reductions in drinking can influence long-term habits and overall well-being;
Tips for maintaining social connections and routines without alcohol or through reduced drinking; and
Why fewer young adults are choosing to drink alcohol.
