If a person has 2 DUI's in one year are they alcoholic?

Question

A dear friend seems okay most of the time, but after getting license reinstated only one month ago and knowing the consequences, she has already been arrested for DUI. Is an intervention appropriate--if so, how?

Answer 1

One of the hallmarks of addiction is an irrational willingness to engage in use of a mood-altering substance, despite possibly serious consequences.

Typically someone is already an alcoholic or is well on her way by the time she has one DUI, let alone two. That she's willing to put her life, and other peoples' lives at risk for a second time clearly shows the need for an intervention.

You can meet with her and bring a gathering of those people who care for her (family, friends). Each of you explains how much you care about her and thinks that her use is out of control and that she needs professional help. Also, you each tell her ways in which her use has negatively impacted all of you.

Keep reassuring her that you believe she can be happy without the alcohol but you think it's going to require a program at this point. You will have researched a few good programs and will have pamphlets ready to give her.

Don't expect her to react well at first. Her shame and fear may turn quickly to anger and denial of the problem. Your job is for you guys to tell her how you feel and give her the info, that's all for now. How she responds is up to her. No one can force her to want to stop drinking either. And she may threaten to end the friendship. That is her fear of giving up the alcohol talking. You have to be willing to sacrifice your close friendship with her if it means being straight with her about her alcoholism.

You and anyone else she cares about have the option of going to a support group like Alanon to learn more about alcoholism and addictive personalities; plus ways to handle an alcoholic.

Finally, blow the whistle on her if you ever find out she's driven drunk again. Tell the cops in order to protect her from her, and other drivers and pedestrians from her. Hope some part of this helps and good luck to you and your friend. Sorry this is so long.

Answer 2

Sometimes nothing will help. I'm sorry. I have three or four friends who, I think, have drinking problems but won't admit it. They have killed people and a couple are in jail now for their third and fourth DUI. One guy I went to school with had four (4) DUI's, killed this poor young lady, he never found out if the police could locate any family. His corporate lawyers were he works, a;ways get him reduced sentencing or time served in a detox center. Which to him was like a country club. MADD. Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (a very respected and important tough on crime advocacy group) has picketed his court hearings. But money talks and I guess he had a lot to say. So he always got off. All of my friends were let off by the police too. Basically slapped on the hand. It sounds like an intervention can't hurt. I've never been at one or heard of one.Good luck.

Answer 3

I think it depends on more than just the # of DUI's...some people are just irresponsible, and not necessarily an alcoholic.

does your friend drink to the point of being drunk several times a week or every day? have you noticed personality changes? have they lost interest in their normal activies and only want to drink instead?? I would access the full situation before having an intervention. Talk to other friends and family members of hers, see what signs they may be noticing and go from there. Hopefully she'll understand that you're just a concerned friend who cares about her.

Answer 4

Intervention is more than appropriate, its necessary. How long does your friend think they can go on before they kill someone. As far as I'm concerned, the second DUI should have earned your friend prison time!

Answer 5

If you keep getting DUI's, that sounds like a problem to me. Not only is she putting her own life in jeopardy, she's endangering other people as well. I don't have a problem with people who get drunk, but I do have a problem with people who get drunk and try to drive. Let her know you're concerned for her safety; maybe that will mean something to her.

Answer 6

Is that the only symptom? Alone, it only makes her irresponsible and unlucky. She drinks and drives. But you don't know how often she drinks, how much she drinks, or when she drinks. If you have other reasons to suspect that she is an alcoholic, do intervene. She may hate you for it when you do, lie, curse, avoid you, but most of the time, eventually people respond because they want the help.

Answer 7

well just because your friend has 2 duis' in a year and another one just after her license was reinstated.

It just tells me that she is Stupid. You need to tell her that not only is she endangering her life she is endangering the lives of others. I could easily be walking down the street or my kid and here comes your selfish friend drunk and with a 3000 lb car.

I think you need to sit her down and discuss with her the dangers she is presenting to herself and others!

I think it is disgusting how irresponsible she is being!!!

Answer 8

i'm a improving alcoholic (AA, just about 9 years sober) so i'm going to proportion what I did with my very own 2 young ones. My infants have been 5 and seven years previous on the time I hit backside and have been given sober. This in touch me going to outpatient rehab and various AA conferences. I advised them as much as they could comprehend approximately my challenge, i.e. Mommy is ill and needs the conferences to get extra desirable. I advised them i replace into an alcoholic and in AA. I by no potential advised them they could desire to sense ashamed of me for this. so as that they by no potential have. because of the fact the youngsters have been given older I advised them further and extra. Now they are 14 and sixteen and that they understand almost each little thing. They watched me get sober and after i replace into sturdy in my sobriety they watched me sponsor human beings and watched them get sober too. they have seen what alcoholism does to human beings and that they understand there is help obtainable for those people who want it. they are happy with me and of what i've got carried out with my existence. each 365 days on my sobriety anniversary they circulate out and purchase me a huge ice cream cake and we have fun. So my suggestion to you is which you tell them what's occurring and persist with with the aid of on that dedication to end. i understand that throughout treatment they'll inform you to get to ninety conferences in ninety days and that's a sturdy place to initiate. confirm you get a sponsor and persist along with his techniques. And sturdy success. have faith me, i replace into an entire mess 9 years in the past, and now i'm sober and extremely happy with my existence. If i will do it, so are you able to.

Answer 9

The penalty will force her to go to DUI school again, she'll have to pay a larger fine, and in California she'll have to do 10 days of jail. I think that could "wake her up".

Answer 10

Just talk to her about it. When she denies being an alcoholic challenge her to not drink for an entire month to prove. Take up the challenge with her. Maybe she is an alcoholic or maybe she is just really irresponsible and inconsiderate.