How Can You Help People with an Alcohol Addiction

The toughest thing about helping someone with an alcohol addiction is that they do not want your help.

At least they don’t think they do. Anyone who lives with an alcoholic knows that it affects everyone, not just the person addicted to the alcohol. Our natural instinct is to protect that person but in reality, letting them face the circumstances of their alcoholism is the best.

When loved ones protect, lie and cover up for an alcoholic, they are furthering the addiction. It could be that a friend or loved one calls in sick for the alcoholic or maybe his or her parents pay their delinquent bills. The first thing that would help would be to stop doing these things. Let the alcoholic face the consequences of their actions. A person is more likely to seek help for alcohol addiction if they are left to face the consequences of the addiction.

Sometimes, confrontation is necessary. Despite being called a “confrontation”, a positive tone and attitude should be taken when approaching the alcoholic. Only do this if the person is sober at the time. Express your concern and tell them you wish they would get help for their alcohol addiction. It also helps if you’ve done a little research in advance on local rehab programs. The alcoholic will most likely resist but matter-of-factly let them know that you will no longer help them in their alcoholism by paying bills, calling in sick, etc. You have to not only say it, but mean it and do it.

If nothing else seems to work, you may want to try intervention. A local rehab would have a lot of information on this and it is recommended that intervention be done with a trained professional present. Intervention has proven to be very effective and 95% of alcoholics who have intervention seek treatment. Many of those seek treatment within a week of the intervention.

Bringing the alcohol addiction out into the open is the best way to help the alcoholic. Keeping it hidden away only feeds the addiction and helps it grow. The alcoholic must see the results of their drinking and how it affects everyone around them. This makes denial very difficult. It is still possible, but more difficult. Remain positive and keep reinforcing the idea of rehab to the alcoholic. Sooner or later, especially when they are not enabled anymore by loved ones, they will seek treatment.