Alcoholic anxieties
Question
My Mum has been an alcoholic for about 10 years and recently her neighbours have been trying to get her evicted. She is unwilling (or unable) to seek help for her addiction and I dont know how to convince her that by getting help she could possibly stay in the house. Although this is a council house, I am scared that if she loses her home it will push her completely over the edge.
Answer
You are not alone in your concerns about your mum. Parental alcoholism is a common problem that people often find it hard to discuss and the needs of the children (no matter how old they are) of alcohol or drug users are often overshadowed by their parents' issues.
It's not clear whether your mum has tried treatment in the past for her alcohol dependence and found that it didn't help or whether she has not accessed treatment at all. There are many different reasons why people develop a dependence on alcohol and treatment could help your mother to identify these and then make her change her behaviour. You may find it helps to contact alcohol treatment agencies in your area for information about their services and advice on how to support your mum to access them. You may also want to contact Alcoholics Anonymous on 0845 769 7555 in your area for advice and information about support groups.
If your mum has been drinking for a long period she may already be experiencing some of the effects on health that alcohol can have Providing advice and information about the risks and effects of alcohol is the first step when trying to support someone to reduce or stop drinking. You may want to consider taking your mum to her local doctor (GP) for consultation about her health and advice on how to get support. You can also call NHS Direct on 0845 46 47 for advice and information.
It's no wonder you are concerned about your mum's housing situation, and what will happen if she is evicted. Your local Drug Action Team can give you information about this. The team is part of the local council and should be able to help you find advocacy support for your mother so that she will not lose her home. You mentioned although she may be evicted, the council may be able to find alternative housing for her. Release will be able to give you advice about the legality of your mum's possible eviction. They have a helpline on 0845 4500 215
Supporting an alcoholic parent can be hard work and put a massive strain on your life. Although you need advice on how to support your mother to get help and keep her home, it is also important for you to think about getting support for yourself.
Al-Anon provides support to family and friends of alcoholics. It would be very useful for you to contact them on 020 7403 0888 to find out what they can offer you and whether there is a group local to you. This support will help you to remain strong whilst helping your mother. Remember your mum is the only person who can make herself change, you can only do the best you can to support her.
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Question answered by Addaction
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