According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, roughly six percent of adults in the United States suffer from alcohol use disorder. This is characterized by the consumption of alcohol above average levels.
Left untreated, alcohol use disorder could lead to a number of health complications, including heart disease and liver problems. As it develops into addiction, the problem could also affect a person’s social relationships as well as their performance in essential life activities.
When you know someone who you think is struggling with alcohol addiction, it’s important to intervene immediately before it could get worse. Here’s a guide for helping a friend or loved one overcome this major problem.
1. Find a time and place to talk
If you know someone who has the indicators of alcohol addiction, you may be prompted to act immediately. However, you shouldn’t approach the person while they are hungover or drunk. They won’t take you seriously when they are not in their ideal condition. Wait for the person to sober up and ask them if you could have a private talk. Pick a place that’s quiet and free from distractions so they can easily focus (and acknowledge) their drinking problem.
2. Get off your high horse
Excessive drinking is bad for anyone, but that doesn’t mean the person suffering from it is bad. Drinking problems are often the result of underlying personal problems, whether it’s the loss of a loved one or bankruptcy. Post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental issues are also major factors. It won’t help if you try to moralize the problem and make the other person feel like they chose to drink. During your talk, try to find out what other issues they are facing and let them know that they are not alone. This will help them realize that help is within reach and that they don’t have to rely on alcohol to pull through.
3. Get help from close relatives and friends
People with alcohol addiction will often deny that they have a problem. They may also resort to violence and lash out against you. If they’re showing too much resistance, then it would help to get other people involved. Reach out to the person’s close friends and relatives and look for an opportunity where you could talk to the person as a group. Let the person know how their drinking problem is affecting their relationships. With their social circle in the same room, convincing them to get treated will become easier.
4. Look for a professional
While some people could recover from alcohol addiction independently, others will have to undergo professional treatment to reduce the likelihood of a relapse. You could take the person to a local center that specializes in identifying the severity of the problem through an alcohol evaluation and prescribing an appropriate treatment plan. If the addiction seems too complex to address, you may consider rehabilitation.
A drinking problem isn’t an issue you could simply ignore. If you know that it’s affecting someone close to you, reach out to them. Recovery is certain if you act with urgency.
