How can I approach a friend who has an obvious problem with alcohol?

Question:

She is my best friend. Drinking has began to run her life. Her boyfriend is ready to leave her and when she is approached, she denies that there is a problem at all. She becomes very irate and defensive if her boyfriends tries to talk to her. I have yet to say anything to her about it because I am afraid of making her mad at me. I've never had to deal with a situation like this before and frankly, it scares me to death. Can anyone help me out?

Answers:
I understand this concern... I am somewhat worried about my brother's drinking habits. But he is not quite so bad, and he is the medical field, so he knows the consequences.
Your friend needs to hear the truth from people who love her. If she denies the problem... challenger her to go a week without drinking. Try to make a game out of it... let her choose something she thinks you need ot give up and see who can go the longest with out. If she is truly an alcoholic, she may start to see that when she tries to go very long with out it. Or challenge her to keep a log of what she drinks, how much and when. Sometimes seeing it on paper looks like a lot more than it seemed through out the day. You can also show her the statistics on her liver. http://www.maui.net/~jms/alcohol.html... has some great information on what alcohol does to your body. But my favorite has to be this site... http://www.thatguy.com/the-facts/drinkin... ...very young people friendly! Good Luck!

have an intervention?

Get all of her friends together, her parents also if you think it's appropriate. She'll freak out, but it needs to be done. Prepare for her to hate you, try to get her into a rehabilatation center, or at least get her to go to some counseling and AA meetings. Good luck.

Wow, I'm sorry, how about you just go up to her sometime and say, "You need to stop drinking! It can hurt you in many ways!" You need to aproach it to her, you may not do it the way I said, but you should tell her it straight, if she gets mad at you, well, you guys shouldn't be friend then.

She will either see what she's doing isn't working, or not; and it's not up to you when that will be.

It's her life, her business. Forgive them, then let it be.

You don't say how old your friend is or her drinking history. That makes a difference.

If she hasn't hit bottom, she isn't ready to quit drinking. Look at Lohan. She hasn't hit bottom yet -- she's too young. She will probably continue to drink/drug for another 15 or 20 years if she lives that long.

Alcoholics do not need a reason to drink, but they do need a reason to STOP drinking. That is different for everyone.

She needs to go to a residential rehab (not Promises) for detox for at least 28 days (depending on insurance) and then attend AA meetings regularly.

AA is not for people who need it, but for people who want it.

Sober six years+

How can I approach a friend who has an obvious problem with alcohol?

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