A person is considered an alcoholic when he is not able to stop drinking once he has begun, has withdrawal symptoms when not drinking and continually needs more alcohol to get high, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcoholism is a disease that is chronic and without treatment it can be fatal.
Step 1
Allow the alcoholic to suffer the consequences of her actions. It is difficult to get help for an alcoholic who does not want to stop except through the legal system. When arrested for drunk driving or other alcohol-related offenses, do not provide bail. Let the alcoholic plea for forced treatment or let her go to jail.
Step 2
Arrange for an intervention with a trained alcohol counselor with experience. Plan for the intervention to take place following a particularly bad episode or when the drinker is in trouble. Get the counselor to come over when you believe the alcoholic will be sober enough to hear your concerns and the offer for help.
Step 3
Ask as many friends and family members to attend the intervention as you can. There often is strength in numbers and you never know who might say just the right thing to reach the alcoholic and provide the right amount of guilt, remorse or willingness needed to make the intervention successful.
Step 4
Remain clear and steady about what you are willing to accept and what you are not. Be specific about what you will do if the alcoholic does not go to treatment. Don't make idle threats; be prepared to follow through on your demands if there is no change in drinking habits.
Step 5
Make arrangements for a bed in a treatment facility prior to the intervention so there will be somewhere immediately available to take the alcoholic once he agrees. Call the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service to find appropriate treatment centers in your area and for a referral to a trained person to perform the intervention. The toll-free phone number is 1-800-662-4357.
Tips and Warnings
- Get help for yourself and your family at the same time you are trying to help the alcoholic. Organizations, such as Al-Anon, help family members deal with their own issues and assist them with ways to learn how to stop enabling the drinker to continue with the destructive drinking patterns.
- Be prepared for ongoing treatment and support because the alcoholic will need to continue, once he has released from treatment. Alcoholics who join groups, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, often make a lifetime commitment to attend meetings and get involved in the program. Your loved one may be gone at least 2 or 3 nights a week on a regular basis, as well as seeing a counselor on an outpatient basis for at least a year.
