Alcohol & Health
Treatment
Helping Alcoholics
Medically Reviewed by Annamarie Coy, BA, ICPR, MATS
In this article
The clinical term for alcoholism is alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD is characterized by uncontrollable drinking and a preoccupation with alcohol.
It’s hard to know exactly how to help an alcoholic, especially because alcoholism presents itself differently from person to person. However, doing so can help the alcoholic in your life get sober and healthy.
Knowing how to help your loved one with their alcohol use disorder can be challenging. While you may want to confront the situation head-on, it’s essential to go about it carefully. Some ways to effectively help an alcoholic include:
Enabling an alcoholic takes many forms; some might not even realize they’re doing it. Some signs include:
Enabling your loved one will only worsen their alcoholism. The quicker you can help your loved one get professional help, the easier their recovery process will be.
Having a constructive discussion with an alcoholic loved one can be difficult. Here are things you can do to make things easier:
An intervention is an orchestrated attempt by one person or a group to help someone get help for a substance use disorder. If you can’t get your loved one into treatment willingly, you may want to set up an intervention. This is to let the person know you aren’t going to tolerate their drinking problem, but you want to support their recovery.
Traditional talk therapy can help an alcoholic on the road to recovery. Sometimes, getting a therapist can be a difficult task. To help the alcoholic in your life get sober, offer your support in finding them a therapist or getting them to their appointments.
Also known as family counseling, this therapy can help address the person’s problems and triggers within the context of their family. Family therapy aims to bring better communication between family members.
If you live with the person, keep alcohol hidden or out of the house. Additionally, do things together that don’t involve drinking alcohol. Find new hobbies and activities you can do together that don’t tempt them with alcoholic drinks.
Don’t beat around the bush when telling your loved one that you care about them and want them to get help. Your honesty may be the best way to help them understand how their alcoholism negatively affects their lives and those around them.
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You aren’t alone if you have a loved one with a drinking problem. An estimated 15 million people in the United States struggle with alcohol in some way.15 Roughly 64 million grew up with an alcoholic family member.14
The clinical term for alcoholism is alcohol use disorder (AUD). AUD is characterized by uncontrollable drinking and a preoccupation with alcohol.
Not everyone with a drinking problem has an AUD, but it can lead to one. Some signs that your loved one has a drinking problem include:
People who abuse alcohol may have an easier time breaking their habits than those who are addicted. However, as stated previously, a drinking problem can easily lead to an AUD.
If your loved one has a drinking problem or alcohol addiction, there are ways you can help.
Fortunately, different treatment options are available for those with an AUD. These include support groups, traditional therapies, medical treatments, and more.
Additionally, if you’re looking after an alcoholic, it’s essential to get yourself help. Groups such as Al-Anon offer support to loved ones affected by an alcoholic friend or family member. These groups can give you the support you need to be there for your loved one.
Here are some treatment options your alcoholic loved one can consider:
It’s often recommended that an alcoholic not quit cold turkey. That’s because it can be dangerous and even deadly.
Healthcare providers recommend a professional detox. Detoxing will help an alcoholic wean off of alcohol safely and under professional care. Most inpatient or residential treatment facilities offer this treatment.
Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) is a global, community-driven program that involves regular accountability meetings and group discussions surrounding addiction. It’s “nonprofessional, self-supporting, multiracial, apolitical, and available almost everywhere.”
The 12-step approach is used to overcome alcohol addiction. This includes admitting addiction, making conscious choices to change, and using prayer and meditation.
There are inpatient and outpatient treatment options for those seeking a rehabilitation program.
Rehab centers offer medical supervision from trusted healthcare professionals during alcohol withdrawal and addiction recovery.
Traditional talk therapy can help someone with an alcohol addiction discover any mental illness or emotional baggage that may trigger their addiction. Identifying the causes can help them to overcome their addiction healthily.
Group and family therapy are great options for people who want to go through it with peer support and/or their loved ones. Other options include cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET).
Medication for alcoholism is usually used with other treatment methods to help someone detox from alcohol.
A medical professional will assess them to prescribe the best medication, given their health history and needs. These medications might include:
They’ll connect you to an addiction and mental health counselor
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