Around 15 million people struggle with an alcohol use disorder, which makes it the most common addiction in the US. It also means you’re more likely to have an alcoholic family member. Watching a loved one struggle with addiction takes a terrible toll. It also leaves you wondering how to help an alcoholic family member.

If your loved one struggles with alcohol abuse or addiction, reach out to experts at the alcohol addiction treatment center. Our professionals can guide you through the steps of helping your family.

Talk with Your Family to Help an Alcoholic Family Member

The first answer in regard to how to help an alcoholic family member is simply to talk with them. Try your best to make it a conversation, rather than an argument. Arguments make people dig in their heels and defend their actions. A conversation leaves room for understanding.

Wait until your loved one is sober. Express how concerned you are about their drinking. Tell them about how it affects you and others in the family. Let them know that there is help out there, and they won’t face everything alone.

A crucial, yet challenging, part to remember is that they are not themselves. An alcoholic family member may lash out at the people they love. Practice self-care for yourself when you approach your loved one about alcohol abuse. Try to distinguish between the person you love and the disease.

Stage an Intervention for an Alcoholic Family Member

If conversations don’t work, you can stage an intervention. An intervention gathers a person’s friends and family. Everyone talks about how a person’s alcohol abuse affects them. It’s also an opportunity to encourage them to seek help in a men’s or women’s alcohol rehab program.

Again, it’s crucial that the conversation isn’t just people venting their frustrations and anger. If you feel that the intervention could turn into that, reach out to an intervention specialist. They help guide the intervention toward constructive ends. They can also help you make arrangements with a treatment program.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

The best answer to help an alcoholic family member is for you to get them enrolled in a treatment program. Alcohol withdrawal causes severe symptoms, which is why treatment starts with detox. Detox programs can ease the symptoms with medication.

When your family member is ready for treatment at a Sunstone Recovery recommended facility, they’ll move on to a rehab program. Continued care with intensive outpatient programs shows the best results. Your family member spends a substantial part of their day at the rehab center. The alcoholic family member will participate in several forms of therapy, such as:

You may also be able to participate in portions of alcohol addiction treatment. A family therapy program is common in rehab facilities. Family therapy gives you and your family members a chance to address the effects of alcoholism and learn more about the disease yourself. They also provide the groundwork for healthier family dynamics moving forward. This can make a huge difference for the alcoholic family member.

Sunstone Recovery

Sunstone Recovery offers a range of mental health and substance abuse treatment programs. We don’t just aim for just recovery, but to make a positive impact on our clients and their families as they start the recovery process. Treatment programs feel like home in Bend, Oregon. Programs include:

Don’t let alcohol abuse undermine the life of an alcoholic family member. A high-quality rehab program can assist you in overcoming that addiction. Contact Sunstone Recovery at 855.833.9199 and let us help you find your path to recovery.

Sunstone Recovery Center Bend OregonSunstone Recovery is an intensive outpatient program (IOP) that treats primary mental health and primary substance use challenges for adults 18 and older, located in Bend, OR. Our team of doctorate and master level clinicians is dedicated to helping our clients develop new skills so they can begin to thrive and increase their quality of life. Learn More