My father is in 50s. He is alcoholic. Currently he is saying he is having weight loss, leg pain and shoulder pain. He is also having sometimes blood in stools. He is carrying out his daily routine. Please advice asap.

Dr. Saul PereiraPsychologist46yrs exp

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His condition is serious especially the blood int eh stool. Ideally, the decision to want to quit must come from the addict himself. In this case, there is a danger to his life if he continues, and therefore the decision must be made by responsible others. If this is difficult for you, do get the counsel and help of an elderly relative whom he respects and let him do the convincing. If he does not cooperate, then take the decision and call in the rehabilitation center to just take him away. He may be what people refer to as an addict on ‘skid row’ i.e. Only death can stop him – 20% of alcoholics are on skid row, world over. Knowing that someone else responsible has to make that decision for him and will do him the favor of a life-saving course of action, do so without any hesitation. Do not feel any guilt about doing this because you will surely save his life, and perhaps his health. If he wants to and is willing, he can get out of the addiction to alcohol with support. If he thinks he can do it from home, that I agree, may be very difficult. He has developed dependence and tolerance, two factors that work together, to increase our need for the substance and to need more of it for the same pleasure, over time. These effects condition us psychologically and physically, that giving up appears to be a very difficult task. That is why detoxification is recommended for chronic cases to eliminate the physical craving, at least, to start the process of relatively easier recovery. First, it is important to identify why one drinks: it usually has something to do with suppressing some deep-rooted pain. Then you can admit him for detoxification. Get thorough knowledge about the habit, about alcohol, and its mechanisms. Let him attend AA meetings, and since his case is very serious, admit him into a rehabilitation center for at least 6 months. The desire to want to quit is perhaps the most important condition. Giving up the habit is not easily done by oneself: he will need the support and help of a good group and therapist. By the way, he may have many relapses but he should never give up. His perseverance is the key. And the help of your family is absolutely essential to a good resolution. He needs to develop new habits and find new ways of gratification etc. All in all, he needs to be able to abstain from alcohol for at least three years to know that he is relatively safe from alcoholism. There is another drive called the Script Drive, which needs elaborate explanations. After the rehabilitation, if he still finds the urge too strong, then he can be prescribed disulfiram that will cause from mild to severe reaction and sometimes even hospitalization if he even consumes a tiny amount. Compliance to the prescription is the key for this success. 

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