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 By Argile Stox Jan. 15, 2006 There are some human behaviors that I completely do not understand. One of which, is Alcoholism. Currently, a close personal family friend is struggling with an individual whose alcohol consumption has increased dramatically. The individual has a cardiac condition and has had a bout with cancer – yet, this individual continues to consume large quantities of hard alcohol, and has withdrawn from interacting with the family. Alcoholism is a very strange addiction and disease. There have been many attempts by family members to have a conversation with this individual – however, he becomes hostile, completely blocks out the words of concerned family members, and shuts down the individual who crosses the “personal” line. The situation has evolved to the point where his wife is considering ending the relationship – until such time he voluntarily gets some help, confronts the demon’s that resides within his mind, and dries out. He has increased his alcohol consumption to a fifth of the hard stuff, a day. Family members have talked about holding an “intervention” and placing this individual into an alcohol rehabilitation program. However, past experience has shown (with other family members) that once the individual has completed the program, they immediately start drinking again – with a vengeance. The families of this individual are very concerned. They have been in discussions with his wife and have constantly assured her, that they are behind her one-hundred percent. However, what becomes of the individual who is on a self-destructive mission to end his life – by drinking himself to death? Should the family wait until he becomes violently ill or (in a worse case scenario) wait for a telephone call from his wife – announcing that he has become so enraged, that he became violent and has inflicted bodily harm to another human being and has been arrested or worse? For the past year, I have witnessed his slow / rapid descent into the dark world of alcoholism. I have had numerous conversations with him – trying to make some sense of the rage that has caused him to increase his alcohol consumption. His reasoning (when he is sober enough to articulate and communicate his thoughts) appears to be (in his mind) –solid. It is everyone else’s fault, not his own. He appears to be punishing his wife and the family by drinking, which has caused his weight and health to decline. His wife, family, and friends have tried – without success, to have him see a doctor for a check-up. He flatly refuses to step one foot into a doctor’s office. His wife was in tears the last time a family member inquired about his increased alcohol consumption. She has tried to talk to him and get to the root problem that has caused him to be in the grip of increased alcohol consumption. However, he adamantly refuses to discuss the problem, with anyone - even his closest friends. There have been instances, when he has become so intoxicated and angry in the evening – that he slams the door behind himself and “walks off” his intoxication. The next morning, he acts as if nothing had occurred the previous evening – and begins his alcohol consumption – all over again. Should his wife call the local hospital, have professional individuals come to the house and determine whether or not he should be institutionalized? The problem with that scenario – is, yeah, they can commit him for a seventy-two hour observation period. After that, if he can successfully convince the professionals that he is in complete control of his faculties – poses no threat to himself or anyone else, he will be released on his own recognizance. His wife and family fear that after his release – he will resume his binge drinking, be come violent – and cause bodily harm to his wife and or family members for having him committed, in the first place. Since he has nothing to lose – he could become so intoxicated and go on one of his “walks” and commit suicide. As of this writing, he has not talked about suicide, has not begun to give personal possessions away, and has not become physically violent. He continues to consume large quantities of alcohol – becomes intoxicated, takes a walk, returns home a short time later, sleeps off the effects of the alcohol – wakes up the next morning, resuming and repeating the cycle all over again. He does work and attends to his responsibilities – without fail. The only facts that are preventing him from being involuntarily committed are – that he has not inflicted bodily harm to himself or anyone else. I believe that he is well aware of the parameters and protocols that would trigger mental health professionals – to have him involuntarily committed. He is smart enough to stay well within the bounds of that limitation. The family wants to assist him – however, he rejects all of their overtures. He is content to “drink himself” into the grave. The family is at a loss as to what action the wife or anyone else should take, to prevent him from becoming a danger to him-self, or others. There is a fine line between “minding your own business” and interfering with an individual’s right to privacy. The family has exhausted all preliminary and non-intrusive options to try and reach this individual. His wife is on the fence – whether or not she should tell him to pack his bags and leave the house; returning only when he has successfully completed a voluntary alcohol rehabilitation program. There is fear, that he will leave the house – reject the idea of going into an alcohol rehabilitation program, and just dissolve the marriage legally or by suicide. Alcoholism is a very insidious addiction and mental disease. It affects not only the individual – it completely disrupts family harmony. There is just so much an individual(s) can do to gently prod another individual into an alcohol rehabilitation program. His wife has made every loving attempt to get to the bottom of his increased alcohol consumption. All of her efforts and family member’s efforts have failed – and everyone is waiting for the next shoe to drop. Each time the telephone rings and the caller ID displays his telephone number – the family is filled with anxiety; “What has happened now?” Are the thoughts that run through the families collective minds – when they hear his wife’s anxiety filled voice on the other end of the telephone line. Has anyone else, who reads U-K, currently or has experienced the situations out-lined in this column - in the past, possess any useful advice that the family can absorb and institute to assist in this dilemma? The family is open to all reasonable and useful information. ------------ Email Argile Stox: argilestox@gmail.com Comment on this article here! ------------ All articles are EXCLUSIVE to Useless-Knowledge.com and are not allowed to be posted on other websites. ARTICLE THIEVES WILL BE PROSECUTED! |
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