How to Help Your Father With Alcohol Addiction 

If you think your father is addicted to alcohol, know that there are ways that you can help. Throughout the page, we will provide information regarding the signs of alcohol addiction, what action you can take to help him, how to support yourself during this time, and how to get connected to professional addiction treatment.  

Is My Dad Addicted to Alcohol?

It isn’t always easy to detect if someone else has an  alcohol use disorder (the clinical term for alcoholism) or not, especially if you are extremely close with that person. It is common to see those who are experiencing problematic drinking to downplay the extent of their alcohol consumption, as well as to seem to function normally, even when under the influence. However, if you feel that something isn’t right with your father, do not ignore your instincts.  

Signs Your Father May Have Alcohol Use Disorder

While only a medical professional can diagnose substance use disorders, being aware of the signs of alcohol use disorder can help you better determine if your father needs professional intervention or not. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-V), some of the criteria for alcohol use disorder include:¹

• Consuming alcohol in larger amounts than intended or for a longer period of time than initially planned.
• Having a persistent desire to cut down or stop alcohol use.
• Continued alcohol use despite failing to uphold responsibilities at work, home, and/or school.
• No longer participating in previously enjoyed activities due to alcohol consumption.
• Experiencing recurrent social or interpersonal problems due to alcohol consumption.
• Continued alcohol use despite being aware that alcohol is causing or exacerbating another physical or psychological health condition. 

How to Talk To Your Dad About Alcoholism

No matter the current state of your relationship with your father, deciding to talk to him about his alcohol use can feel scary, overwhelming, and even uncomfortable. Taking that first step is never easy, but knowing how to start this conversation and what to say can alleviate some of the nerves you may be having. 

Prior to starting the conversation, plan to wait until your father is not under the influence and/or undistracted. You want him to be as engaged as possible in this conversation, and picking the right moment can help make that happen.² When you do begin speaking, avoid accusations or judgments and speak to him with a supportive, calm voice.² You can try using “I” statements that let your father know what you have noticed and how your feeling, such as:³

• “I am concerned about your drinking.”
• “I am worried about you. Can we talk?”
• “I’ve noticed that you call in sick to work a lot. Do you want to talk about what is going on?”
• “I’m concerned that your drinking is impacting your health.”
• “I’ve noticed that you don’t seem like yourself lately. How can I help?”

How to Help Your Father with Alcohol Addiction

Aside from speaking to your father one-on-one about your concerns, there are other things that you can do to help him. If you keep wondering, “how to get my father to stop drinking”, first ensure that you are not forcing him to seek treatment and that you are allowing him the opportunity to turn to you or another trusted loved one for help when he is ready. From there, there are few steps you can take:

• Learn about alcohol use disorder. Take some time to learn about alcohol addiction as a disease. This will help you better understand what is occurring with your father, hopefully helping to alleviate some of the personal feelings you may be experiencing. 
• Offer him information and resources. Provide him with information about alcohol use disorder via an email, text, or even print. Similarly, look up some local resources he can contact and provide that information to him. 
• Offer to accompany him to a doctor or therapist appointment. Let your father know that he is not alone in this. Offer to go to see his doctor or a therapist with him so he has extra support and encouragement during this tough time. 

How to Be Supportive For a Dad with AUD

As much as you may want to, you cannot make your father go to treatment or force him to stop drinking. Addiction is a highly personal experience, and only the individual can take the actions needed to get sober. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t support your father at this time. 

Some ways you can show your support to your father can include:

• Suggesting he speak to someone else if he is not comfortable speaking with you.
• Encouraging him to learn more about potential treatment options. 
• Offering to take care of the logistical aspects of his daily life, such as paying bills, taking care of a house pet, etc. while he seeks professional help.
• Regularly asking him how he is feeling and if there is anything he wants to talk about. 
• Letting him know that you are prepared and  able to assist him in getting treatment whenever he is ready.

Support for Families of Alcoholics

If your father drinks too much, chances are you are already aware of how that can impact not only yourself, but other members of your family, too. During this time, it is critical to ensure that you and your family members are obtaining support for yourselves. Doing so can help you cope with your father’s alcohol use, express your emotions in a safe space, and more. You can obtain that support through:

• Getting therapy, specifically individual therapy. You and your therapist can make an informed decision on how frequently to meet for sessions. 
• Attending family therapy sessions. You may find that your individual therapist can offer family therapy services, or you may choose to find another provider. Encouraging your family to join you can help rebuild a more cohesive family unit. If your father is in treatment, the facility he is attending may be able to offer family therapy to you, too.
• Going to local support group meetings, like Al-Anon or Alateen. There, you meet with other individuals who are experiencing similar challenges with a loved one. You can listen to the testimonies of others and/or share your own, as well as build a network of support in your community. 

How to Help My Dad Find Alcohol Addiction Treatment

You can offer to help your father find alcohol addiction treatment, which is highly supportive and a step in the right direction. Part of finding treatment involves understanding that various levels of care available to treat alcohol use disorder, which include the following:⁴

• Detox – Detox is a medically-supervised process that assists in clearing the body of addictive substances while properly managing withdrawal symptoms. 
• Inpatient addiction treatment – Inpatient rehab will require your father to live at the facility for the duration of his care, however he would be receiving around-the-clock care and intensive therapy. 
• Outpatient addiction treatment programs – Outpatient treatment allows your father to obtain treatment for alcohol use disorder, but still continue living at home and engaging in daily activities (depending on the intensity of the program he attends). Outpatient addiction treatment programs include partial hospitalization programs, intensive outpatient programs, and standard outpatient programs, all requiring different amounts of time spent at the facility. 

No matter which treatment program your father attends, his care plan will likely include a variety of evidence-based therapies that are commonly used to treat substance use disorders. These may include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which can help your father identify and change harmful thoughts, feelings, and behaviors that lead to unhealthy alcohol use.
• Motivational interviewing/motivational enhancement, which can help your father increase his motivation to change and stay in treatment.
• Contingency management (CM), which involves using vouchers or other prizes to reward patients for healthy behavior, such as negative breath or urine tests.
• AUD treatment medicines, including naltrexone, acamprosate, and disulfiram, which can help reduce cravings and prevent further alcohol consumption. 

If you want to learn more about how to help your father address his problematic drinking, call us at . Our free, confidential helpline connects your directly to one of our compassionate admissions navigators, who can provide you with information and resources. They can also help you begin the admissions process. 

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