| What should you do if you have a family member | | | | without alcohol. It is one thing to get off the alcohol, but |
| who drinks too much or is unwell through alcoholism? | | | | another to stay off the alcohol and stay sober. This is |
| Many people are reluctant to talk about and deal with | | | | very difficult and needs coping strategies to deal with |
| these issues. And it can be difficult to get help. | | | | difficult situations in the future. |
| The first point to note is that the person drinking too | | | | At this stage in the rehab treatment support from |
| much is ill and at a stage in their addiction in which they | | | | family members can be very helpful, support in helping |
| cannot just stop drinking on their own. They need help. | | | | the person remain sober. Many rehab centres also |
| But they need help that family members cannot often | | | | offer support for families, both counselling individually |
| give, and this is where addiction clinics become very | | | | for other family members and group sessions with all |
| useful. | | | | family members together. In this respect family would |
| An alcohol rehab clinic will often provide a period of | | | | include any close friends or partners. |
| residential care for the person with a drinking problem. | | | | This support from family is important after the |
| Some clinics require the person to arrive 'dry' or 'sober' | | | | residential rehab is completed. Once an alcohol has |
| and off alcohol, having completed an alcohol detox. | | | | stopped drinking they usually say they are in |
| Others are able to give a medically supervised detox. | | | | Recovery, recognising that it is all too easy to slip back |
| The main treatment within an alcohol rehab centre is | | | | into drinking again. But many former alcoholics |
| counselling and help in enabling the person to live | | | | successfully stop drinking and remain sober for life. |