If someone you love is an alcoholic, their addiction to alcohol becomes as much of an obsession to you as it is for them. The best way to assist your friend or family member's addiction is to help them in the best way you can.

Education

First, educate yourself on the disease. Alcoholism is well-documented and studied. There are a variety of resources at your disposal. Once you fully understand the signs and symptoms of alcoholism as well as the sobriety treatment options , you will be better able to communicate with the alcoholic in your life.

Communication

Whether you choose a formal intervention or a simple sit-down discussion, it is imperative that you be direct and to the point when communicating with your alcoholic friend or family member. Avoid criticism and bringing up past events. The goal is to let your friend know that he is loved and accepted as is but that the disease is dangerous and hurting everyone around him.

Let him know that you will be a support for him when he enters treatment and ask what he needs from you to create a safe place for him to be. Appropriate requests include not drinking in front of him, removing alcohol from the home, et cetera. Inappropriate requests include money, material possessions or anything that endangers your piece of mind and the family's stability .

Take Care of Yourself

Remain hopeful and take care of yourself no matter what the alcoholic in your life decides to do. If you are to be of real assistance to this person, you will not enable their addiction by remaining silent or by allowing them to take advantage of you. Groups like Al-Anon are for friends and family members who have been affected by alcoholics. Finding support to remain strong for yourself, the rest of your family and the alcoholic friend or family member is the best way to help an alcoholic get treatment and get better.