Confronting Alcoholism: A Guide to Difficult Conversations

Confronting someone in your family, or one of your friends, is extremely difficult. Here's an idea of how to go about it.

Things You'll Need

• a list of local AA meetings.
• A list of treatment centers accepted by your loved one's health insurance (if possible).
• Patience and love.

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Instructions

• 1

  Confront the situation with the gravity it really has. Laughing or joking with lead the alcoholic to believe that this isn't a serious thing. Don't invite levity in a situation that shouldn't have any.

• 2

  Talk to the alcoholic, and be firm about your convictions. Lay out exactly what and why you're having the issue with his or her drinking. Be specific.

• 3

  Offer assistance. Give him or her the list of local AA meetings. Offer to go with them. Offer inpatient treatment options if that is an option.

• 4

  Be kind, be loving, but be firm. Don't deliver ultimatums, but be firm in the consequences. If this is your spouse, and you can't take it anymore, say so. Detail that you can't live with a problem drinker anymore. Follow through on these consequences. If you threaten to move out, be prepared to back it up!