I have a friend who is an admitted alcoholic. The problem is, he does not want to quit. He says he "enjoys drinking" and does not believe AA and a rehab program would help. (He completed a 30 day program in 2003 and resumed drinking soon after leaving) What should I do?
2007-09-17 16:23:57 · 13 answers · asked by KhrisB 3 in Health ➔ Mental Health
Wait until he is ready to seek help and be supportive when he is. It will only make things worse if you continually ask him to go to rehab. People have more successful recoveries when they make the decision to do so by themselves. Be supportive when the time comes...good luck!
2007-09-17 16:27:58 · answer #1 · answered by Jennifer 5 · 3⤊ 1⤋
It is a truism in our society that rehab or drug treatment can only work "if the person is ready to change"; but the clinical data in fact disagrees with this popular assesment.
The success rates of drug treatment including rehab are pretty much the same, regardless of the initial motivation to entry. Court ordered or family pressured rehab seems to work just as often as self motivated entry into a program.
I would suggest intervening if possible and trying to persuade of the need for treatment. You may not be successful, but what is the alternative?
Nagging, shaming and all that never works, and it is important to be supportive, but I don't think that this means to be supportive of continuing drinking.
75% of all alcoholics in this country never get any treatment for their drinking...ever! We should do a better job helping people with this disease. It's not easy, but it's important!
Good luck, and it's great that your friend has a caring and concerned advocate in his corner.
2007-09-21 00:20:41 · answer #2 · answered by John D Lee 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
It is his problem and only he can fix it. If he is not ready then he will not stop. Rehab is about giving a person the tools to do what he/she wants or feels that he/she needs to do. It doesn't get rid of the addiction. So, no, you cannot convince him to go and be successful. You will just become annoying to your friend. However, be there when he/she is ready.
2007-09-17 16:30:18 · answer #3 · answered by Yoda 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
In answer to your initial question....if he is not ready to go to rehab, nothing you do or say will convince him to go. What should you do? Be a friend. Do not be an enabler. Don't loan him money, don't take him to the store to buy booze, don't take him out clubbing. And hope he gets help before he does something stupid or tragic, or both.
2007-09-17 16:31:07 · answer #4 · answered by claudiacake 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Leave him alone. If he says he's not going to change, He's Not Going to Change! AA is a good program only for Christians or people ready accept a religion.
2007-09-17 16:32:06 · answer #5 · answered by smartsassysabrina 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
He have to want to quit, or rehab is unsuccessful because the rehab work for the person's desire to change and last long term at home. When he is tired of be sick & tired then talk to him about quiting drink his life away. When you go forward to him, he will back up; when you back up away from him, this will draws him forward to you.
2007-09-17 16:30:23 · answer #6 · answered by marhaba 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Sometimes, like myself, I had to hit rock bottom and lose just about everything before I woke up one day and said Im tired of feeling like this. When you push rehab on someone it only makes them more resillent and not wanna go. Just be there and try to help them. He will be the only one that can decide to quit or his Liver wil do it for him.
2007-09-17 16:31:48 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
what you're doing for him is fairly form of you yet to be trouble-free, itsounds like he's purely taking you with none attention i propose, he eats your nutrients, he sleeps at your place yet does not make a contribution something?? wtf? i'd be so pissed i'd kick him out if i've got been you i'd propose you refer to social workers which could help him out or some style of counselor. if that sounds too drastic, make him see the blunders of his techniques record his on a regular basis activities and make him see for himself how this is effecting you
2016-10-04 22:26:17 · answer #8 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Go to Al-Anon. Look on web for locations. They'll give you info to help you and possibly your friend.
You're friend has an addiction and a disease. It is a lifetime battle
2007-09-17 16:31:24 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
It will do no good under these circumstances. When he is ready, he knows the way back to AA.
This is not a good thing for you. Rethink your friendship. You are not his keeper and he will pull you down along with him.
2007-09-17 16:31:01 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋