Put the Brakes on Alcoholism: How to Deal with an Alcoholic Roommate

Put the brakes on alcoholism: If your roommate showsothers. When your roommate sees how much his/her
signs of alcoholism (binge drinking, not knowing when tofriends and family care about his/her well being, they
stop, bad behavior when drunk, drinking negativelymight change their ways and give up drinking, or at
effecting his/her life) you should intervene and try toleast learn to control themselves. But if they are a real
get them help. Here are a few tips to use to deal withalcoholic, sometimes cold turkey is not easy and you
an alcoholic roommate.will have to be there to help them through the difficult
Ban alcohol from the apartment It’s a drastic step,sobering process.
but sometimes an alcoholic needs some tough love, soEncourage them to seek help For many alcoholics,
while banning alcohol from the apartment will alsoeven their friends and family confronting them about
affect yourself, if you really care about yourtheir drinking won’t help, sometimes they need to
roommate you will make the right decision. It is easygo to a program where they can talk and discuss their
for your roommate to sneak alcohol into thealcoholism with others who are struggling with the
apartment and drink it on the sly, so make it so if hesame problem. Alcoholics Anonymous is a highly
breaks the rule that there will be consequences, suchsuccessful 12 step program that many alcoholics have
as extra cleaning or getting kicked out of theused and continue to use to maintain their sobriety.
apartment.Encourage your roommate to check out one of their
Intervention Sometimes when confronted by theirmeetings, offer to go with him/her for support, and
friends, family and peers, the alcoholic roommate ishope for the best.
able to see how his/her drinking is affecting the lives of