Restricting access to alcohol

Commendable. But that fact doesn’t mean you don’t have a drinking problem. Like I said in your “drinking thread” a couple of days ago, there are alcoholics who are very high-functioning. My dad was an alcoholic for more than thirty years. He held a job for 90% of that time, was married to my real mom for more than 25 years and he raised three kids. He kept us living in nice places and we always had a car, food on the table and nice clothes. But he would often get drunk and be mean and sarcastic all through my childhood. He was a cool father in many ways but he had a drinking problem most of his life. I’m just saying what I know from my own experience.

My problem is a headache condition. I was gong to school and applying for jobs. Then I followed everyone’s advice to try the more modern medications…I developed serious headaches from just briefly switching medications and am still suffering. It is a complicated problem, but luckily it seems to be getting better over time.

It can be. Alcohol can literally destroy lives. Sure crack is a felony. But I have met hundreds of alcoholics whose drinking lost them their jobs, their families and for lots of them also their freedom. You must know how alcoholism can wreck lives. You may not be an alcoholic right now but you MAY be headed down that road.

My brother has bipolar disorder and is non med compliant. He also has an alcohol problem. By far alcohol has impaired his life far more than his mental illness. He totaled 3 cars because of his drinking. He doesn’t drive, because he can’t get insurance from his many drunk driving incidents. He’s been to jail numerous times for belligerence and violence due to drinking. Luckily no one aside from himself has been seriously hurt.

My brothers and sisters don’t give him money any more for presents, because I know he’ll just use it to buy alcohol.

As far as constraints on alcohol use or spending limits, I think it’s fair game when an adult child lives in your house. Your house, your rules.

I have a sister who is bipolar and she has also gotten into trouble with drugs. I would never drink and drive and the only drug I touch is legally with alcohol. Everyone is different.

You are doing all you can. Hopefully, you can get him on some meds. The drinking is something he is going to have to deal with when he`s ready.
My son was a heavy drug user. Took a long time to figure out what were the SZ symptoms, and what were the drug symptoms.
In the end, he is off drugs and is starting to see his SZ symptoms.**