A Family Disease

How Can I Get Him to Stop?
When family members of those who are alcohol dependent ask the above question about the drinker in their lives, the answer is never simple.

Why do I need help? He's the alcoholic!
The disease of alcoholism affects everyone in the family whether they realize it or not.

Enabling
Many times when family and friends try to "help" alcoholics they are actually making it easier for them to continue in the progression of the disease.

Denial
One of the most frustrating factors in dealing with alcoholism as a relative friend or professional is it is almost always accompanied by a phenomenon known as "denial."

Detachment
For the friends and family of the alcoholic the key to serenity is finding the wisdom to know the difference between what they can and cannot change.

Games People Play (Part I)
You didn't cause it and you can't control it. But could you be contributing to the problem?

Games People Play (Part II)
If you find your self locked in to playing a role in the alcoholic's life maybe it's time to call "time out."

Chat Meeting Topics
A discussion of 40 topics of interest to families of alcoholics and newcomers to Al-Anon.

Intervention
Sometimes when the alcoholic's problems reach the crisis level the only choice left to his family is professional intervention.

Another View of Intervention
A new book suggests that families may not be as powerless as they have been lead to believe in intervening with an alcoholic or addict family member.

Adult Children
Most of us who grew up in families affected by the disease of alcoholism never did really grow up in many ways.

Is Your Teenager Using?
If your child is using alcohol and drugs it's a good bet he (or she) is probably doing everything possible to keep that activity hidden.

Growing Up 'Alcoholically'
Growing up in home with an active alcoholic can effect how a child looks at life and almost everything in it.

Al-Anon Beginners Meeting
For the first time on the Internet newcomers to Al-Anon Family Groups can participate in a web-based meeting.

Information about Alcoholism

But it doesn't act like a disease!
The difficulty in recognizing alcoholism as a disease is it sure doesn't seem like one.

Problem Drinkers
Many people who have a problem with alcohol are not alcoholics and in order to quit drinking they do not necessarily need medical treatment peer group support or a spiritual awakening.

Dry Drunks
Unfortunately when many former drinkers go through the grieving process over the loss of their old friend the bottle some never get past the anger stage.

Hitting Bottom
For those suffering from the disease of alcoholism it seems to be an almost universal truth that before things can get better they have to get worse -- sometimes a lot worse.