My friend may have an alcohol problem?!


Question: My friend may have an alcohol problem!?
i have a friend who i've known since i was very young!. she's my best friend!. but recently she's been rather strange!.

she's always been a partyer!. she's pretty loaded so whenever she needs money, she just asks her parents for it and she can get alcohol from a friend or something for a party!. (she isn't spoiled, but her parents can afford to give her a lot of money!.)

she used to be very sharing and open and happy!. we'd all just be chillin and taking shots or playing pong and it'd be fun and she would always be happy and chill!.

but these days, she's such a stickler about alcohol!. she buys at least 4 bottles of real nice vodka and she keeps them all for herself!. if we go out for a walk or something at night, to meet up with friends, then she bring at least 3 coronas or a whole bottle of vodka in a water bottle, that she doesn't share with anyone!.

i can understand that she doesn't want to share with strangers or with all people at a party!. i wouldn't want to do that either!. it's understandable!. but when she has at least 50 beers in her mini fridge, and won't let me have one, because she says "they're expensive and hard to get", doesn't that sound a little strange to you!?

when she HAS to bring alcohol with her everywhere she does!? when we have to go out of our way to go back to her house to get her stuff!. when she won't even share with her closest friend!?

i'm not someone who neeeeds alcohol to have a good time, but i'm just wondering if anyone thinks my friend's habits are getting a little out of control!? what should i do about it!?

and by the way, she doesn't drink on school nights!.!. at least no that i know of!. and she's almost always got a mix drink in her hand when i see her, except in the morning!.

what should i do!? she's 16!.Www@FoodAQ@Com


Answers:
Your friend sounds like she is an alcoholic!. I wish I could be encouraging but I know from first hand experience that once alcohol becomes the prime motivator in their lives, there's little you can do!. I commend you for trying though!. You are a caring person and your friend is lucky to have you!. Unfortunately, alcoholics don't want caring friends unless those friends enable them to continue to drink!. If you stand in her way or try to "talk sense into her", she'll lie, cheat, steal and do whatever she needs to, to continue to hide her drinking problem!.

You could talk to her parents or a counselor at school about your concerns!. Perhaps you could call Al-Anon and get some advice from them!.

If she's buying vodka, it's because it doesn't smell like alcohol on her breath!. It's probably what she drinks on school nights, before school and maybe at lunch time!. Hoarding and not sharing just indicates to me that she is afraid to run out of her stash!.

Since you have a long history together and you are best friends, I am sure this is very difficult for you to watch!. also, it occurred to me that the two of you are probably together a lot and you don't have a drinking problem!. Doesn't that help you to see that there must be more to this!? Your friend probably has an alcoholic parent or close relative as it tends to be heriditary!. It is a sickness and needs treatment!. If she continues to drink, she'll hurt herself or others eventually!.

I hope you look to some trusted adult for assistance if you feel this is serious!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

It certainly sounds like she has a problem, she's so young! Her parents really need to know whats going on, I don't think theres much you can do except be there for her when/if shes decides to acknowledge that she might just have a problem!. As for not sharing her alcohol with you, does she share other things with her friends!? maybe she is just selfish!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

She might have a problem, but she just sounds kind of paranoid right now!. You should have a talk with her, and find out what's up!.


And for Iceskater, it is a bit young, but what's the fun in drinking if you are allowed to do it whenever(well you know legally allowed to)!?(I'm 15 by-the-way)Www@FoodAQ@Com

Just sit her down and say "look you have a drinking problem and you need to stop ok and if she says no knock her out and steal her beer (H)Www@FoodAQ@Com

Her behavior seems tainted by paranoia!. Are you sure she's not also doing drugs!?Www@FoodAQ@Com

Tell her it's getting you down!. If it doesn't stop then the friendship is over!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

I think that is sounds like she is starting to have a problem with alcohol!. You should talk to some of her friends, or talk to her about it if you are concerned!. Maybe try to keep the booze away from her and distract her from it by suggesting other things to do rather than drinking so it doesnt become a serious thing for her!. I hope I helped!. And good luck with your friend!.

xoxoBecca

pEaCe

ps!. please help me too!? http://ca!.answers!.yahoo!.com/question/ind!.!.!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

Ooohh!.!.!. that's not a good situation to be in at all!. I hope her parents know what she's doing!. You should probably let an adult know before this goes out of hand!. cause you know when you have an alcohol problem at 16, it can like ruin your future and all your dreams and all!. It's best to let someone know fast, even if you don't want to bust her or she doesn't want anyone to know!. Good luck!.

P!.S!. I know I'm only 13, but why do you guys drink alcohol already!.!.!.don't you think it's a bit too young!. Www@FoodAQ@Com

Alcoholics need alcohol to enjoy life!. I use to be an alcoholic for over a decade!. Alcoholism is usually not an activity of addiction as much as selfishness!. It may take him/her losing everything to realize their stupidity!. There's nothing you can do at that age!. Just pray for her!. I hope she doesn't end up homeless like I did!. Only by the grace of the Lord did I ever return back to life!. I realized life isn't a bowl of cherries, and a strong person faces life without chemical aids!. Very rarely does an alcoholic become physically addicted to alcohol!. Usually, they are simply trying to escape life, and they love the rush and the feeling of control and power, which of course is all an illusion!. Nine times out of ten, alcoholics have above average intelligences or better, and they become very bored with life and people!. Eventually, I realized that I don't have to be anyone but me, and I was very happy when I discovered this truth!.Www@FoodAQ@Com

i had parents that were alcoholics they are now sober going on 16 years but i would sit your friend down and tell her how you feel they more you ignore it and let it ride the more trouble your friend is going to get into the truth helps and hurts she needs to know she has a problem if you telling her dont help and you really care tell her parents get them invovled in a way that your freind wont think you had anything to do with it Www@FoodAQ@Com

Oh my gosh, she is so young to be doing this!. Contact al-anon and alateen!. You can get information from them so you don't enable her drinking!. Do I personally think she has a problem!? I sure do!.

Does her family know of her drinking habits, or are they doing the same!? You may need to speak with them, too!.

You can try to speak to her!. I don't want to upset you, but I've had this happen to my friends, although they were older!. I never got through to any of them!. I think I got them to thinking about their alcohol consumption, but I didn't cause them to stop drinking!.

They have to understand and admit they have a problem and get some help, IMHO!. Otherwise, they'll just say you're nagging them, get ticked off at you, and not get any help!.

Good luck!. I hope you can get your friend some help!. She has her whole life ahead of her!. You're a good friend to care so much about her!. I hope she can realize this!.Www@FoodAQ@Com





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