A friend is a serious alcoholic. I have often seen him drink hard spirits within minutes of his morning coffee and continue through the day.
He said he's looked at counselling and alcoholic anonymous and they don't seem to help. After some research we found that rehab centers in Australia is very very expensive ($20K - $50K per month and usually 1-3 months required). Also the waiting list is very long.
More research suggested Thailand for a detox and rehab. In Thailand, "The Cabin" seems to get all the publicity, but there are also "DARA rehab" and "Hope Rehab". Are there others which is affordable and good?
Has anyone been through this struggle and is willing to share honestly and seriously?
ps. Sorry about the anonymity - if you're serious, please PM and I can reveal details if necessary to find help for him.
pps. If you wish to start poking fun, please start another thread and do it there.
My experience is limited, and with an alco relative (real bad)
He got into a semi govt funded, Salvo sort of thing quite easily. Has your searching perhaps only shown private ones?
Just thoughts...
I have had a humungous amount of experience with it unfortunately and I can say this without reservation. If the alcoholic doesn't recognise the fact that he, or she, is an alcoholic and doesn't want to address the problem then nothing is going to change.
^^ and that was not the question that was asked.
If he says counselling and AA has not helped, and is talking to NeedHelp about his options, I'd presume he acknowledges it and is seeking help
keep them physically busy. You cant do much hungover / drunk. Or take them to a hospital to make them realise how ungrateful they are !
Select to expand quoteok said..
keep them physically busy. You cant do much hungover / drunk. Or take them to a hospital to make them realise how ungrateful they are !
That only may work if the alco gets drunk or gets a hangover, unfortunately many alcos don't get either, drinking actually makes them feel normal.
Select to expand quotejapie said..
I have had a humungous amount of experience with it unfortunately and I can say this without reservation. If the alcoholic doesn't recognise the fact that he, or she, is an alcoholic and doesn't want to address the problem then nothing is going to change.
Agree, just walk away otherwise they drag you down into their destructive world.
Japie is right. You may want to accompany him to Thailand make sure he actually gets to the rehab doesnt detour and have a 4 week bender in Bangkok.
He may eventually cutback, or drink himself to oblivion or end up back at AA when hes life is totally screwed and hes ready
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..
^^ and that was not the question that was asked.
If he says counselling and AA has not helped, and is talking to NeedHelp about his options, I'd presume he acknowledges it and is seeking help
Sorry Markus old chap. I wasn't commenting on presumptions. I was, at least I thought I was, answering the question. I've just re-read the post. There is only one sentence in there with a question mark at the end of it:
"Has anyone been through this struggle and is willing to share honestly and seriously?"
I thought my reply was reasonably succinct. It was definitely honest and definitely serious and I have definitely been through the struggle.
And it was definitely aimed at the only question that was asked.
And in my experience my answer is right on the nail. If the alcoholic doesn't acknowledge the fact that they are alcoholic AND want to reform ain't nada going to happen.
You hadn't been on the plonk when you posted your reply had you?
Whats caused him to drink?
I don't know much about addictions, I'd assume, correctly or incorrectly, somethings happened in the past that has caused your friend to turn to the bottle.
I have seen it happen with people I know.
Would that make sense in your eyes? - to deal with the reason for his drinking first?
He drinks in the morning because the "hair of the dog" gets rid of his hangover. You cannot make someone stop drinking unless they want to or perhaps they are given antibuse by legal authority. Perhaps if he only drinks in the afternoon he wouldn't be hung over. Maybe get him to switch to beer or weed. Short of all that he will need to hit bottom.
They will deal with it when they come to the point where they understand there is an issue. getting involved isn't the answer its not your fight to have.
I'm not ashamed to say that i know this first hand! it took many years for me to understand in myself there was an issue. the best thing you can do honestly is be a mate!
not a teacher or marter 
it's a hard struggle and something you really only know after being there
Select to expand quoteKozzie said..
skip to 15 seconds to avoid bull**** added adverts
thisll help your mate OP
If you think this defines an alcoholic in any way shape or form then you have very little understanding of the addiction 
This is a hard one to stop. I have seen some of the blokes in my industry go from a bottle before lunch to cold turkey. Alcohol is one of the few drugs that can kill you if you stop cold turkey. I remember one bloke, a functioning alcoholic, very smart and well read too, when he stopped. Over a few days he became as frail as. Then he had a drink and it was just like Popeye having his spinach.
Point of my story is they have to want it, and then slowly stop.
There was another bloke I worked with that work paid for to go to rehab. He made it sound like a party filled with drugs and sex. But he wasn't the type that wanted to stop, and he didn't.
it comes in so many forms as mentioned above functioning to a full blown drunk? all are alcoholics and all share common denominators. Personally, for me, it was sitting down after work relaxing? after a few years, it becomes normal and ingrained then when you try to stop you find it near imposable because now there's a bit missing? like a gap that you don't know how to fill. sounds stupid now but when you're in that mindset it's reality. it's a slippery slope, mine was a high-stress industry were the people above you played as hard as they worked. tho, in the end, its me who followed their steps .
Select to expand quotejapie said..Mark _australia said..
^^ and that was not the question that was asked.
If he says counselling and AA has not helped, and is talking to NeedHelp about his options, I'd presume he acknowledges it and is seeking help
Sorry Markus old chap. I wasn't commenting on presumptions. I was, at least I thought I was, answering the question. I've just re-read the post. There is only one sentence in there with a question mark at the end of it:
"Has anyone been through this struggle and is willing to share honestly and seriously?"
I thought my reply was reasonably succinct. It was definitely honest and definitely serious and I have definitely been through the struggle.
And it was definitely aimed at the only question that was asked.
And in my experience my answer is right on the nail. If the alcoholic doesn't acknowledge the fact that they are alcoholic AND want to reform ain't nada going to happen.
You hadn't been on the plonk when you posted your reply had you?
Sorry to upset you but I think the question was rather plain. It costs too much to get into private rehab, looked at ones in Thailand, are there other options?
That has a question mark at the end.
Paragraphs 2 and 3 as a pointer for you.
I think we all know the alco has to want to change and I reckon his whole post implies that the alco does.
Peace.
Select to expand quoteMark _australia said..japie said..Mark _australia said..
^^ and that was not the question that was asked.
If he says counselling and AA has not helped, and is talking to NeedHelp about his options, I'd presume he acknowledges it and is seeking help
Sorry Markus old chap. I wasn't commenting on presumptions. I was, at least I thought I was, answering the question. I've just re-read the post. There is only one sentence in there with a question mark at the end of it:
"Has anyone been through this struggle and is willing to share honestly and seriously?"
I thought my reply was reasonably succinct. It was definitely honest and definitely serious and I have definitely been through the struggle.
And it was definitely aimed at the only question that was asked.
And in my experience my answer is right on the nail. If the alcoholic doesn't acknowledge the fact that they are alcoholic AND want to reform ain't nada going to happen.
You hadn't been on the plonk when you posted your reply had you?
Sorry to upset you but I think the question was rather plain. It costs too much to get into private rehab, looked at ones in Thailand, are there other options?
That has a question mark at the end.
Paragraphs 2 and 3 as a pointer for you.
I think we all know the alco has to want to change and I reckon his whole post implies that the alco does.
Peace.
To you too 
I have experience from both being close to an alcoholic, as well as providing intervention.
From both perspectives by acting on their behalf you are assuming responsibility that they will not, and in both cases it is you they will abuse when they fail.
They will not change until there life is so **** that they see that it is they who needs to make change.
Failing at previous interventions strongly suggests that he is not yet ready to change, and no amount of money will change that.
Select to expand quotedjt91184 said..
Japie is right. You may want to accompany him to Thailand make sure he actually gets to the rehab doesnt detour and have a 4 week bender in Bangkok.
Sound advice. Thailand is a very dangerous place for those without self control.
My bro hit rock bottom "thats what it takes" his words. He made the call, person on the other end of the phone said "you won't die, you've made the call". 35+ yrs later he hasn't touched it & has run AA meetings for 30+ yrs. He's helped x amount of people & always said "people won't give it away until "they" want to!! He's been there & done IT. You can only "help", do your best for your mate but & it's a big BUT..be prepared for a hard, HARD road ......... Your mate is lucky to have a friend like you.!
Hey not ready to change you cant help just like drugs Let him go and distance yourself from him before he becomes abusive.
If that doesn't work theres allways this muppet.
A lot of negative talk her about Alcoholic's or Alcohol Abuser which is more accurate.
I've had real issues in the past with the booze. I have a lot of mental/emotional pain which is so intense I use prescribed medication and self medication.
My drinking stemmed from bullying in my direction from within my family since a young age. That can really mess you up.
AA is not for everyone it's actually harmful to many people. I chose "Harm Reduction" (nothing else worked) which involves cutting intakes, beer instead of spirits, start drinking later and later in the day. Distractions such as work,surfing, and kite-surfing can be used too.
Good luck and you are an awesome mate! don't listen to the negative talk, your smart enough to know when to walk away.
Select to expand quoteLazysurfer said..
A lot of negative talk her about Alcoholic's or Alcohol Abuser which is more accurate.
I've had real issues in the past with the booze. I have a lot of mental/emotional pain which is so intense I use prescribed medication and self medication.
My drinking stemmed from bullying in my direction from within my family since a young age. That can really mess you up.
AA is not for everyone it's actually harmful to many people. I chose "Harm Reduction" (nothing else worked) which involves cutting intakes, beer instead of spirits, start drinking later and later in the day. Distractions such as work,surfing, and kite-surfing can be used too.
Good luck and you are an awesome mate! don't listen to the negative talk, your smart enough to know when to walk away.
jesus loftywinds i didnt know we were that bad to you mate
