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The Steps You Need To Take To Help An Alcohol Addict

We all like to have a drink now and then. Drinking alcohol in moderation is fine, the problem occurs when your body becomes reliant on alcohol to get through the day. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can damage our bodies. That's why, if you notice a friend or loved one drinking too much, you need to find a way to help them.

A lot of people choose to turn a blind eye when it comes to alcohol addiction, but if you want to help the person who is struggling, you need to get them help. Turning a blind eye to the situation will only make things worse. It might be hard knowing how to go about it, but you need to find a way to get them the help that they need.

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Helping someone overcome their addiction doesn’t have to be a struggle, it’s just about taking the right steps.

Research addiction

The first step you should take is research addiction. For someone who hasn’t suffered from alcohol dependence, it can be hard to understand. Taking the time to research it is important so that you are armed with all the knowledge that you need to help your friend or loved one.

Your research will probably explain how important it is that you don’t let them manipulate you or get money out of your for alcohol. You need to be kind but firm with them so that you have the best chance of getting through.

Talk to them

Once you’ve got all the information that you need, the next step is to talk to them. Choose a time when there is no one else around and the two of you can talk without being disturbed. Explain to them that you’re worried about their drinking and think that they need help. It’s important that you tell them that addiction is an illness and to get better, they need help.

They may not be keen on this idea, but you need to find a way to make them agree. A good option is to explain how their drinking has affected you. For example, if they’ve drunk driven with you in the car, tell them how scared you were. Or, if they’ve been acting differently with everyone, tell them that. Sometimes, you need to be cruel to be kind.

Suggest that they get some help

There’s a lot of help out there; it’s just about finding what’s right for them. The first step is to make them a doctor’s appointment, where they can speak to a doctor about their alcohol addiction. Then they can choose whether to be treated as an outpatient or whether going into rehab is the best option. Another option could also be getting them into a sober home after their initial detox, to help get them back on track.

Support them

Last but not least, it’s essential that you support them. The best way you can help a friend or loved one who is addicted to alcohol is to support them. This can be by visiting them in their rehabilitation facility or by helping them to be treated as an outpatient. Whatever type of help they get, make sure that you’re there for them every step of the way.

Alcohol addiction is much more common than you would think and can affect anyone. It can be hard seeing someone that you care about struggling with addiction. But if you take the above advice on board, you can help them to get their life back on track again.