It is interesting to mention something that family members who have been harmfully affected by the alcohol dependency of another family member clearly do not realize. It appears that by protecting the alcohol dependent person with falsehoods and deceit to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have in actual fact created a condition that makes it easier for the alcohol dependent individual to persevere and press forward with his or her damaging, destructive way of living.

Undeniably, rather than helping the alcohol dependent individual and themselves, these family members have basically become enablers who have involuntarily helped worsen the alcohol dependent individual’s drinking problem even further.

Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcohol dependent individual will continue drinking in a hazardous and excessive manner and go through diverse “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DWIs), diminished mental functioning, deteriorating relationships, serious financial problems, ill health, and employment difficulties.

Relapses Can and Do Occur From Time to Time

According to the research findings and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcohol addiction issue has to do with alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcoholic has fruitfully gone through alcoholism rehabilitation and then resorts to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this circumstance flies in the face of sound thinking and appears to be so implausible that it forces one to question why anyone who has lived through the dreadfulness of alcohol dependency can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol rehabilitation and in turn after achieving sobriety. There are, to be sure, more than a few credible reasons for this.

It should be noted, nevertheless that alcohol dependency research that has focused on the lasting effects of alcohol addiction has shown that long after the alcohol addicted person has quit his or her drinking, key transformations in the way in which the alcohol addicted person’s brain functions are still present. As a consequence, all a recovering alcohol addicted person has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the modifications that have occurred in the brain is to start drinking again.

A Requirement for An Important Lifestyle Change

There are additional reasons why numerous recovering alcoholics return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after reaching sobriety. According to the alcohol dependency research literature, to make a successful recovery, the alcoholic needs new ways of responding and thinking in order to deal more efficiently with tough alcohol-related situations that will take place.

Circumstances such as returning to the same alcohol addictive atmosphere or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the time when the alcoholic was drinking abusively; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring forth memories that can prompt psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcohol addicted person to engage in excessive drinking once again. Sadly, all of these circumstances may not only get in the way of long-term sobriety for the alcohol addicted individual but they can also result in relapse and consequently counteract one’s alcohol recovery.

The Good News: First-Class Help is Available Almost Everywhere

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcohol dependent person, family members can essentially cause unintended damage by enabling the harmful drinking behavior of the alcoholic.

The substance abuse research literature confirms the fact that most people who effectively complete alcohol treatment go through at least one relapse. Alcohol addicted individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get dejected or stressed out when a relapse happens.

Happily, involvement in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up treatment and training have resulted in more effective, long lasting alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction treatment results, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol addicted individuals accomplish long-term alcohol recovery.

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