Plan of action for an alcoholic best friend

B1tO'RoughJack

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Dec 14, 2011
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OK first off hey people :)

THis is not about "my friend" SWIM, this is actually about my friend "C".

He has been drinking heavily from the age of 10/11, as his childhood was very violent, both towards him from both parents, and watching the violence between his parents.

He is a mama's boy, and his father is dead as of about 10 years ago or so.

He wakes up and drinks.

He has been to rehab a few times, he wakes up, pukes, drinks a can, then if he isn't working, will steadily drink all day until sleep. He plans he has sufficient drink - always thinking about the next can if he is not flush(temp wealthy).

If he has an argument with someone, usually his boy's mother, he will (unless guided by the right people) usually buy a bottle of vodka alongside his usual 8 or so daily cans of scrumpy jack, and binge binge binge for a day or 2.

His spending is impulsive as you can imagine due to his emotional state bouncing up and down constantly.

He used to smoke crack, and sniff white, but due to various influences this is now a thing of seldom occasion.

His main problem is his violent temper, and his masochistic drinking.

His masochism is so deep, due to his childhood traumas, that even though he has been speculatively given 2 months to live if he continues to drink, he continues to drink, but a BIT slower, he seems to be generally more rational and in higher spirits, but still not good at all...evidently.

Now I have offered my help several times - usually the answer is the same " I don't need ya help bruv, I can sort my own shit out", but one occasion about 2 months ago when I offered an iboga session circle, with possibly ayahuasca and iboga circles to follow once a month if needed or whatever, he broke down, confessed how much pain he is in, where, and that he has given up.

However, when I pressed it a little, and told him I don't want to go round visit his baby mama and boy, stepping in the door and knowing he can never do that again, coz he's dead - well, he agreed to try it...

I see his problem as he won't take anyone's help, coz he has pretty much given up - but I see him accepting help in other aspects of life all the time, so I am determined to do this - I have spoken to a few trusted people, people he named he'd feel comfortable with as his sitters and minders, through the experience, and so I determined to do this, my part as brother, brother's keeper, and community druid/shaman/medicine man.

I have found a source, and making the arrangements for after the christmas/new year period, and just going to make sure I see him fairly often over the period, to stop any binges happening so he doesn't kill himself before "therapy time". This time will follow the iboga session(s).

I came to terms with the fact he might actually die an evening in bed last week just before I went to sleep - I have visions, like flashes of potential future, that have become more and more frequent as I've matured, and become more cosmically aware - I grieved for him before sleep whilst rejoicing his return to real, unburdened life.

2 very clear visions I had that night - one us arms around each others shoulders like brothers, smiling and laughing, and being dogs together, both evidently happy and healthy and wealthy; and a second vision of me turning up at his funeral, huggin his baby mama, with a fresh tattoo tear on my face, black armband, wearing a suit, and fucking torn up inside.

They are both clear visions - I know it is now 50/50 which is going to occur because of the next month's occurrences.

I guess I'm writing here for support, how I don't know - but I just felt that night like I needed to post here.

I need to put it out there...maybe for suggestions, guidance from people who have dealt with the same thing the same way I am intending, or simply to make my intentions very clear to the universe.

Time will tell, insha'allah.
 
Good luck. You are a good friend. I do think that healing at the spiritual level is what gives someone the hope and faith (that they can actually feel better off drugs). If you can be instrumental in that for your friend, that is wonderful. Still, just like with quitting itself, summoning the courage to heal yourself ("what if I try and fail?") is a terrifying step for people and he will have to come to that on his own , too.<3
 
You're such a great friend for sticking by him and wanting to help him. Unless he wants to get clean himself, all you can really do is stick by him, be his emotional support, show and explain how he will benefit from not relying on alcohol, etc.

I have a close friend who always talks to me about getting clean and she does so in a way that does not make me feel pressured, obligated, or like I'm letting her down by using my drugs. I find that wonderful and helpful. However, since I don't want to 100% get clean for myself just yet whatever anyone will say to me about it really won't influence me. I need to do it for *me*, just like your fiend needs to do it for *himself*.

So my advice to you is to continue to stick by your friend, talk about how eye would personally benefit, try to spend as much time with him as possible so as to help occupy his mind and just go from there. Be there for him through the ups and downs. Let him know you love him and care about him and his well being. As hard as we try we can't change people - they have to want to change themselves.

<3
 
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Perhaps open his eyes. IMHO alcohol is the number one worst drug to do long term. Worse than meth or heroin or whatever. Show him someone who is "wet-brained" or alcoholics in rehab shitting themselves while delirious and running down halls screaming, etc

Alcohol can truly pickle your mind and body worse than any drug I've ever seen, and can kill you in detox obviously. Meth comes close, but IMHO not nearly as devastating

Good luck, alcoholics are particularly hard to convince because of how alcohol effects your personality and judgement, unlike something like heroin which leaves your mind basically intact even while high.
 
You could try an intervention.. but chances are he will not stop until HE wants to.. whether that's because he gets fed up with it, his health deteriorates or other.. whatever comes first / he cares more about.
 
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Thank you all for your kind, reassuring, and most of all, supportive words.

I completely agree that helping oneself has to come from within. From my observations, I think he just needs a shove, with constant reassurance that I'm his friend, and most definitely just try and show him the possibilities life has to offer for him, if he stops drinking and gets onto the path. I'm sure he is very scared, but he doesn't show it.

I will be there for him as much as I can bear, being around him and where he can get can be very draining on my energies, but I see more and more positives every time I see him - just little changes.

An intervention - yeah this is kind of what I am aiming for - except something which in which he is instrumental in the planning of it - I know from how he is, that to be jumped on by a group of 8 - 10 friends, he would build a very fast brick wall, and it would be very hard for us to get anything constructive done.

Whereas, when I have acquired everything I need information-wise, I shall again bring up the iboga/ayahuasca circle into conversation in a less superficial sense; let him know I am poised with "this, this, this and this", and that everyone who he said he would be comfortable with nurturing him during his experience has been approached discreetly and is onboard, and all I am waiting for is his confirmation in order to bring everything to the table.

Peace, I will keep updating as things progress.
 
Update - just before NYE he tried detoxing of his own volition - he was ill obviously, and managed 2 days again, but the will is there. We now know the will is there - so everything I felt and envisioned I shared with him, and we had a really good time actually round his on boxing day - his ex came round and hooked him up with some benzos and some nurturing support - we all discussed it, no inhibitions, and I came back the next day with some Milkthistle extract tincture, and a load of fruit juices. However the next day he started drinking again, but he only had 2 cans the whole day - so progress. One step forward, one or 2 steps back kinda thing. Not seen him for a week but will update again later.

I offered a psychdelic heavy hitting session again, and he said he wasn't up for it yet, so I am backing off until I get back again, with some MDMA.
 
That's great!

Progress is what you and him want to aim for, not perfection. Like you said- the will is there. That truly is great news. I hope your friend finds sobriety soon. <3
 
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