How to help someone who's addicted to Alcohol?

[Lubsin]

I'll keep this short, my father has an alcohol problem and I don't know what I could do to help him. Hopefully someone can give me a bit of advice here. He has been charged with DUI multiple times now, and currently, has a DUI charge over his head. With that being said, even after spending 40 - 50k in lawyers etc over the years, he still continues to drink drink and drink. I've never experienced someone that drink sooo much, it's beyond me. If you guys need any further information, I'll be more than willing to help.

[BaronRivendare]

Sorry to hear about that man. The thing with most addictions including alcohol is that the person has to want to quit. Have you let him know in normal terms what it's doing to the rest of the family? There are a lot of AA and addiction groups where they can start the process. First thing is to obviously get all alcohol out of the house and convince him and he needs to want to change his pattern.

[Lil Sparkie]

You don't unless they want help.

[nymphetsss]

I'll keep this short, my father has an alcohol problem and I don't know what I could do to help him. Hopefully someone can give me a bit of advice here. He has been charged with DUI multiple times now, and currently, has a DUI charge over his head. With that being said, even after spending 40 - 50k in lawyers etc over the years, he still continues to drink drink and drink. I've never experienced someone that drink sooo much, it's beyond me. If you guys need any further information, I'll be more than willing to help.

You can't help someone who doesn't want help. Let him know you are concerned and there for him and thats really all you can do. I'd suggest finding a support group for family of alcoholics and drug addicts, one should be easy to find in your area and can give you greater insight than MMO champ.

Coming from a family full of addicts and alcoholics I know it can be hard, good luck

[Independent voter]

AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, if he wants to go. They try a little bit of everything, but the support group is probably the most effective.

Some alcoholics have the willpower where they can just stop drinking, but that's a tiny percentage.

[Impersonal]

People, places and things is real. He has to want to help himself(usually only achieved through hitting a solid bottom.)

Major snip as I thought this was just too much.

Do some research on AA, real professionals, and alternatives to AA(they exist, some AA members will tell you otherwise.) All of it can be helpful, if not wholly successful, and that's better than nothing.

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

I'll keep this short, my father has an alcohol problem and I don't know what I could do to help him. Hopefully someone can give me a bit of advice here. He has been charged with DUI multiple times now, and currently, has a DUI charge over his head. With that being said, even after spending 40 - 50k in lawyers etc over the years, he still continues to drink drink and drink. I've never experienced someone that drink sooo much, it's beyond me. If you guys need any further information, I'll be more than willing to help.

He may be an alcoholic...but his real problem is that he keeps getting behind the wheel when he's drunk. Deal with the general alcoholism later...the priority is to get him to stop driving drunk before he fucking kills someone.

[shadowmouse]

He has been charged with DUI multiple times now, and currently, has a DUI charge over his head.

If you are in the US there isn't a damned thing you can do except draw a line and tell him he's on his own from here on out. He will have already had to go through professional counseling. He doesn't have just a problem, he is an alcoholic and will have to face that. That means facing that it is a problem, and that fixing it is going to be an ongoing process for the rest of his life. Telling him he is on his own sounds, and in some senses is, pretty harsh. It is, however, the only thing you can do that doesn't end up facilitating his alcoholism. For example, have you had to help him with bills (legal or otherwise) during his previous DUI cases? If you have, you're helping him avoid facing the problems his alcoholism is causing and he'll keep expecting you to do that. He has faced multiple DUI prosecutions. He might be one of the lucky ones, but if he keeps going (and he probably will keep going even when -- not if, but when -- he loses his license) he will be in an accident that injures or kills himself and possibly others.

Draw the lines now, you won't like the pictures

/s/ bungeebungee, former administrative hearing officer who handled too damned many of these

[Najnaj]

You can not do it yourself unless he is really motivated. Many addicts don't even admit that they are addicts.


Talk to someone who does this professionally.

[Misuteri]

I recommend Alanon and realize you’re not in control of the situation and can do nothing about it.

[Super Kami Dende]

It's hard to do. I tried to get my alcoholic friend off it for years. It took him nearly losing his life, his wife and having his Doctor tell him he would be dead soon to even THINK about TRYING to do something about it.

[Lubsin]

First of all, thank you all for your helpful input/advice. It's clear to me more than ever that it's 100% out of my hands. I'm young and I've never experienced such a behaviour in my life. Thanks again guys, much appreciated.

[Monster Hunter]

I'll keep this short, my father has an alcohol problem and I don't know what I could do to help him. Hopefully someone can give me a bit of advice here. He has been charged with DUI multiple times now, and currently, has a DUI charge over his head. With that being said, even after spending 40 - 50k in lawyers etc over the years, he still continues to drink drink and drink. I've never experienced someone that drink sooo much, it's beyond me. If you guys need any further information, I'll be more than willing to help.

In my experience People become addicted to drink and drugs for deeper reasons, Most alcoholics are self medicating some form of depression.

If that's the case you won't, and tbh probly don't want to solve it till what ever is drove him to it in the first place is resolved.

This is likly something you really don't want to here but:
Most alcoholics I know and drug addicts I know (and I know a surprising amount) do it for the same reasons I smoke, secretly were just really tired of life. But some feeling of responsibility keeps us from choosing the quick option.

[Flura]

google baclofen

[Evil Midnight Bomber]

First of all, thank you all for your helpful input/advice. It's clear to me more than ever that it's 100% out of my hands. I'm young and I've never experienced such a behaviour in my life. Thanks again guys, much appreciated.

Just going to re-iterate that the best thing you can do is to try and get him to stop drinking and driving.

If a man wants to drink himself to death...that's his choice...but he's got no right to put other people's lives at risk by getting behind the wheel drunk. I feel bad for your situation...but right now your father is a public menace.

[Flura]

google baclofen

sry doublepost

[Tiwack]

Clean out the bottles and help him back to something he likes and can draw happiness from. A doctor may help with methadone for a detox. All addiction starts from a place of boredom often just waiting to kick it while combating experiences and memories of their own - on their own. Drugs, alcohol, sugar and fats are shortcuts to happiness and escape to the point that the body craves it, forcing thoughts into your head that can be difficult to handle without support and guidance to gain a foothold and claw it back to something lucid and genuine to further build upon.

[Adio]

https://www.wnycstudios.org/story/addiction

There are drugs that apparently get rid of the the cravings. Quiet a few actually.

[Vash The Stampede]

I'll keep this short, my father has an alcohol problem and I don't know what I could do to help him. Hopefully someone can give me a bit of advice here. He has been charged with DUI multiple times now, and currently, has a DUI charge over his head. With that being said, even after spending 40 - 50k in lawyers etc over the years, he still continues to drink drink and drink. I've never experienced someone that drink sooo much, it's beyond me. If you guys need any further information, I'll be more than willing to help.

From my experience people who drink aren't happy with something in their life. Something serious and private usually. You can try all you want to get him away from the alcohol but it offers a release that he craves for. Better off figuring out what's upsetting him and deal with that than the drinking. Drinking is a symptom not the direct problem.

[D Luniz]

its a chemical dependantcy, and the withdrawal can be brutal

if he's willing, get professional help