Alcohol is an organic chemical derived by fermentation enabled by addition of yeast to extracts from rye, barley, corn, grain or any beverage containing ethyl. What makes it unique is its almost instantaneous effect in alleviating moods and senses at the expense of physical coordination. Anyone trying out alcohol as a mode of relaxation, celebration, enjoyment or unwinding is likely to turn to it time and again, often landing up getting addicted to it. These can ruin one’s professional and personal lives and take its toll on his physical and emotional well-being.

A person addicted to alcohol has to be weaned off this habit with tender, loving care, counseling and occasional therapeutic healing. These most often, have to be initiated by a close relative, spouse or other family member, who is also forced to play an active role in the recovery. Expert advice is available from organizations and implementation involves self-motivation and family support.

Self motivation is possible if the alcoholic is torn by guilt for misbehaving after drinking, getting the realization that he must try and cut down, is unable to face family especially his children, or feels he is losing in his road to success due to his drinking. This works positively in helping him exercising his will power and determination to take professional help and follow it till he is ready to give up alcohol completely.

Often alcohol addicts lack the strength of character or determination to fight this addiction alone. In such cases, family members, most often a spouse, have to play the role of companion, counselor and friend, who has to make them aware of all that is going wrong in each person’s life because of his alcoholism, the health repercussions, financial distress, if any and the general deterioration of family life. The most difficult part of the problem is the individual’s acceptance of the fact that he has a drinking problem. His acceptance of this fact along with his admitting that he needs help, is half the battle won. The next step is to initiate him into a group like Alcoholics Anonymous. Since it is a self-help group that also respects he person’s desire to remain anonymous, the social stigma attached to such problems, disappears and makes the environment more conducive to recovery. The organization has members who have been through such problems directly or indirectly, and through their experiences help each other. The advantage here is that the process is taken from start to finish, and the emotional upheaval faced by the alcoholic is handled sensitively.

Successful intervention is never lifelong, and efforts have to be made that the strategies adopted to cure the addiction are somehow reinforced time and again so that the individual is not tempted to turn to alcohol again.