Running head: DRUG AND ALCOHOL MISUSE 1

Drug and Alcohol Misuse: Friends and Family Can Help

Group 5

MADS 6647 V2

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Prof. Dawn Andrews

October 15, 2019

Running head: DRUG AND ALCOHOL MISUSE 2

Alcohol abuse can create untold number of various stresses within a family and

among the lives of everyone involved. However, by providing compassion and

understanding for the loved one, friends and family can help the addicted person. Alcohol

abuse does not only create health hazard to the person who consumes it but affects the

entire family and brings feeling of abandonment, unworthiness and self-blame. Watching a

family member or close friend struggling with alcohol addiction is certainly not an easy

task. Even though the actions aren't easy to take, it is very important afterall loved ones can

only make the situation better.

Addicted person should be approached carefully with honesty and compassion.

Non-judgemental, sincere and empathetic help could be very effective in overcoming

addiction. Although this phase could be very difficult for everyone involved, patience is

very important. For people who suffer from alcoholism is also necessary as relapse is very

common and the withdrawal symptoms are also very difficult to handle for a person

without proper support from family or friends. A lot of people die during this withdrawal

phase. For instance patient suffers from hallucinations, pain, sweating, high fever and

many more. Hence, constant encouragement should be provided even if the intervention

won't go as expected.
Running head: DRUG AND ALCOHOL MISUSE 3

References

Woody, C. (2012). Family and Friends can help in treating alchol misuse. BMJ 2012, 345.

Retrieved from https://webcampus.fdu.edu/bbcswebdav/pid-2435383-dt-content-rid-

7241410_2/courses/197015/5.%20Family%20and%20Friends%20can%20Help.pdf