REQUEST A FREE
CONFIDENTIAL ASSESSMENT

Helping Loved Ones Recover From Alcohol Abuse

Alcoholic and alcohol abuse treatment centers are filled with people who want to overcome their addiction or abusive habits. But not everyone who needs help wants, or thinks she needs, help. Watching a loved one ruin his life, not to mention his health, is painful and can leave you feeling helpless. There are, however, steps you can take to help your loved one acknowledge and admit that he has a problem.

Stop the "cover ups"

Friends and family members tend to make excuses or offer explanations in order to protect their loved one from the consequences of alcohol abuse. The sooner you stop covering up, the sooner your loved one will get a clear picture of the damage he’s doing to his relationships, vocation, and maybe even his health.

Have a timely conversation

The best time to talk to a loved one about her drinking is after and alcohol-related problem has occurred (i.e. – missing a work deadline, getting in an accident). Don’t jump in immediately after the incident, when emotions are high and the person may still be intoxicated. Wait for things to calm down, and make sure the two of you can talk in private. When preparing to have this conversation, there are several things you’ll need to keep in mind.

• Be specific
  When you talk, give specific examples of how your loved one's drinking is affecting his life. While you need to be specific, you also need to be respectful. Don't embellish or get melodramatic. Stick to the facts; talk about what's happened, how relationships have been affected, etc.
• Spell out the consequences
  Let your loved one know there will be consequences if he doesn't get help. Don't make threats. Again, this isn't a time for embellishment or melodrama, but simple facts. Think carefully about the consequences you want to impose. Make sure they are things on which you're willing and able to follow through.
• Offer solutions
  Before your talk, research available treatment options so you can present them to your loved one. Suggest visiting one or two places together. Let your loved one know that you'll be with them through the recovery process.

Get others involved

If your initial conversation yields no results, pull in one or two other friends or family members. Ask them to talk to your loved one. You may want to schedule a formal intervention with friends, family members and a health care professional. The format should be similar to your one-on-one conversation.

Regardless of whether your loved one seeks help or not, you will benefit from finding a support group for friends and family members of alcoholics and alcohol abusers.