Nationwide Alcoholic Intervention Services

How an alcoholic behaves and how a family is affected by alcohol is described in our drug addiction intervention section.

Additional challenges with alcoholic interventions are the entitlement concerns. When one is using illegal drugs, there is little to debate. Because alcohol is also socially acceptable, alcoholics are able to justify their drug of choice more easily than a street drug user. Although accepted, most alcoholics are not found in bars. They are found withering away in their homes, concealing alcohol throughout the house. Physically, alcohol proves to be the harshest drug, and mentally, just as with drug users, it is not about the substance being used, it’s about the user’s behavior. Many families of alcoholics spend too much time listening to alcoholics’ promises and too little time gauging change based on actions. Our suggestion is: stop watching their lips; keep an eye on their actions because alcohol is not the problem; the alcoholic is.

Be it a spouse, a son, a daughter, or any other family member, alcohol is the priority for the person using it. All other relationships take a back seat to the relationship with alcohol. A family affected by the alcoholic has but few options. One path is to believe the stories about those who just swore off alcohol forever. In that scenario, you wait at your own expense, not the loved one’s. The second option is to do nothing and just live with it, but for most, this is not a viable option in the long run. At some point, those connected to the alcoholic take action. The third option is finding closure through an intervention. If the loved one is not going to stop in spite of the many societal consequences he or she has suffered, then you can take charge and initiate a family intervention.

At some point, you need to ask yourself: “Am I OK playing second fiddle to alcohol?” If the answer is no, then it may be time to consider putting your needs first and offering the alcoholic help with a professional present. For many, it is a difficult undertaking because the thought of standing up for oneself is terrifying. For most people involved with an active alcoholic, pushing back is something that has not happened in years, if ever. But remember this: family and loved ones are allowed to say no to the alcoholic’s lifestyle and choices. It is not OK to light yourself on fire to keep your loved one warm. When a family has had enough, and the alcoholic is not showing signs of changing, you can take the first step and provide closure for yourself, knowing you did everything you could to help all concerned, including your loved one.

How an alcoholic behaves and how a family is affected by alcohol is described in our drug addiction intervention section.

Additional challenges with alcoholic interventions are the entitlement concerns. When one is using illegal drugs, there is little to debate. Because alcohol is also socially acceptable, alcoholics are able to justify their drug of choice more easily than a street drug user. Although accepted, most alcoholics are not found in bars. They are found withering away in their homes, concealing alcohol throughout the house. Physically, alcohol proves to be the harshest drug, and mentally, just as with drug users, it is not about the substance being used, it’s about the user’s behavior. Many families of alcoholics spend too much time listening to alcoholics’ promises and too little time gauging change based on actions. Our suggestion is: stop watching their lips; keep an eye on their actions because alcohol is not the problem; the alcoholic is.