Should You Press an Alcoholic to Recover?

//

Ready to Get Help?

Call now to be connected with a compassionate treatment specialist.

There are many ways in which you can help an alcoholic to recover. However, many people think you can force an alcoholic to overcome their addiction. This is not true. One question that is commonly asked is whether you can press an alcoholic to recover. For the most part, the answer is no. Doing so, may ruin the chance to help them when they are truly ready. However, just because you shouldn’t press them, doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do what you can to help them and let them know you care about them.

Talking to Your Loved One or a Friend About Their Addiction

One of the best things you can do for an alcoholic in your life is to talk to them. Talk to them on a regular basis. They may not know you care as much about them. This person in your life may not even realize you are paying attention to what they are doing. Yes, it may seem like they should just know. However, the addiction has taken hold of their life. They need to see that people care about them. Call them a few times a week. Go and visit them once a week. Make sure you show them how much you care with your words. If by talking to them they agree to go to an alcohol or drug rehab center, that is great.

Have an Intervention

It can be helpful to hold an intervention for the alcoholic in your life as well. This can be troubling, since you don’t want to try forcing them into recovery. An ultimatum hardly ever works for alcoholics and addicts. However, with that being said, there are many interventions which have been successful. Getting people together that care about the alcoholic or addict in your life can show them they are not alone. This might empower them to seek out treatment for their addiction.

Give Them Time

While you don’t want to press the addict or alcoholic in your life to get treatment, you should talk to them about what is going on. Let them know your concerns. Do this when they are clean and sober or they aren’t likely to hear you out. After you have mentioned your concerns, give them time to respond or react. Don’t push them into giving you an answer on whether they will get help or not. By giving them time, you are more likely to get a positive response out of them as well. This may encourage them to get alcohol or drug rehabilitation treatment too.

Do you have a loved one or a friend who is addicted to alcohol or drugs? If so, now is the time to speak with them about your concerns. Let them know how much you care about them. Maybe even hold an intervention. Just remember to give them time to handle what you and others are saying to them.

If they want to enter an alcohol or drug treatment center today, have them call 888-992-7955 to get the help they need.

Choose a Sober Life with Magnolia Ranch Recovery

Available 24/7, we're committed to guiding you towards a life free from the shackles of drugs and alcohol. Connect with our recovery experts to discover our holistic treatment pathways.

Picture of Esra Ahmed - MS, NCC, LPC, MHSP
Esra Ahmed - MS, NCC, LPC, MHSP

Experienced Clinical Director with a demonstrated history of working in the hospital & health care industry. Skilled in Anger Management, Healthcare, Medicine, EMDR, and Life Transitions. Strong healthcare services professional with a Masters Degree focused in Psychology from The University of Memphis.

Read More Blogs

12 Step Fellowships Not a Replacement for Addiction Treatment

12 Step Fellowships Not a Replacement for Addiction Treatment

The relationship between the addiction treatment industry and 12 step fellowships has on occasion been a challenging one. Elder sponsors in 12 step fellowships often

Tennessee Addiction Resources: The Plight of Addicted Mothers

Tennessee Addiction Resources: The Plight of Addicted Mothers

Motherhood is a challenging journey on its own, but when addiction is added into the mix, the challenges can become overwhelming. Seeking addiction treatment as

Tennessee Addiction Resources: The Relationship Between Gambling and Drug Addiction

Tennessee Addiction Resources: The Relationship Between Gambling and Drug Addiction

Gambling and drug addiction are two prevalent issues that often go hand in hand, leading to detrimental consequences for individuals and their loved ones. Both