Approximately 17.6 million Americans are alcoholics or have problems with alcohol, according to MedlinePlus, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. As the friend of an alcoholic, you will find that the alcoholism recovery community offers many groups, reports and books to aid the friends of alcoholics.
Step 1
Learn as much as you can about alcoholism as a physical illness. The four primary symptoms of alcoholism are a strong desire to drink, being unable to stop drinking once started, suffering withdrawal symptoms such as nausea if the alcohol supply is cut off, and alcohol tolerance, the need to drink ever-larger amounts in order to get drunk.
Step 2
Try to put yourself in your friend's place so that you will be better equipped to discuss your friend's drinking. The "Big Book" of Alcoholics Anonymous contains several chapters on how alcoholics think and what triggers repeated drinking bouts. It is available as a free PDF download.
Step 3
Get a clear picture of your friend's drinking by keeping private notes in a computer file about what you observe of your friend's drinking habits, including how much your friend drinks and how frequently.
Step 4
Visit Al-Anon/Alateen meetings, which are set up for family members and friends of alcoholics. The meetings are free, confidential and held all over the United States. Group members can offer you useful suggestions for dealing with your alcoholic friend.
Step 5
Pick a time for an intervention, a meeting in which you will sit down with your friend and share your concerns about your friend's drinking. Prepare a list of alcoholism treatment resources in your area that you can give your friend. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism advises talking with your friend shortly after an alcohol-related incident and choosing a time when your friend is sober and both of you are calm.
Step 6
During the intervention, describe your concerns to your friend in a nonjudgmental manner. Healthfinder offers a list of opening remarks to encourage your friend to talk with you in "Alcohol Use: Conversation Starters." Offer to go with your friend to a counseling appointment. If your alcoholic buddy refuses to listen to you, wait a few weeks and try a second intervention in which you are accompanied by another friend who also is willing to talk with your alcoholic buddy.
Step 7
Protect yourself from the consequences of your friend's drinking. A checklist, "What Not To Do" by Helpguide, offers the following suggestions: Do not make excuses to other people to cover up for problems caused by your friend's drinking, do not nag your friend or take over responsibilities that your friend should be carrying out, do not drink with your friend and never argue with your friend when your friend is drunk. If you start feeling as if you should resolve your alcoholic friend's problems, consult a Co-Dependents Anonymous group, where many members have experience in setting limits with alcoholic friends.
