It is worthy of note to bring up something that family members who have been negatively affected by the alcohol dependency of another family member plainly do not realize. It seems that by protecting the alcohol dependent person with lies and dishonesty to those outside the family, these well-intentioned family members have essentially created a circumstance that makes it easier for the alcoholic to persist and move forward with his or her negative, devastating existence.

In fact, rather than helping the alcohol dependent individual and themselves, these family members have basically become enablers who have unintentionally helped negatively affect the alcohol dependent person’s drinking problem even more.

Perhaps the real downside of this is that the alcohol dependent individual will continue drinking in a hazardous and irresponsible manner and suffer from a variety of “alcohol side effects.” Some of these side effects include employment difficulties, poor health, deteriorating relationships, diminished mental functioning, legal issues (such as getting arrested for one or more DUIs), and considerable financial problems.

Relapses Can and Do Happen

According to the research literature and statistics on alcohol addiction, another key alcohol dependency issue has to do with alcohol relapses. Relapses take place when an alcohol addicted person has fruitfully undergone alcoholism treatment and then returns to drinking a number of weeks or months later. At first thought, this predicament flies in the face of common sense and appears to be so doubtful that it forces one to wonder why anyone who has gone through the horrors of alcohol dependency can return to drinking a short while after successful alcohol therapy and in turn after achieving recovery. There are, for sure, numerous rational reasons for this.

It should be mentioned, on the other hand that alcohol dependency research that has focused on the long-term outcomes of alcohol addiction has demonstrated-proven that long after the alcohol addicted person has quit his or her drinking, major changes in the way in which the alcohol dependent individual’s brain operates are still present. As a result, all a recovering alcohol dependent person has to do to involve himself or herself in actions that correspond with the changes that have taken place in the brain is to engage in drinking once again.

The Necessity for A Significant Lifestyle Modification

There are other reasons why more than a few recovering alcohol addicted persons return to drinking a few weeks or a few months after achieving sobriety. According to the alcoholism research literature, to make an effective recovery, the alcohol dependent person needs new ways of reacting and thinking in order to deal more effectively with tough alcohol-related circumstances that will take place.

Circumstances such as returning to the same alcohol addictive environment or to the same geographic location; interacting once again with friends from the days when the alcoholic was drinking in a hazardous manner; or familiar songs, smells, or activities—all of these circumstances can bring forth memories that can prompt psychological tension or push hot buttons that influence the recovering alcoholic to engage in excessive drinking once again. Regrettably, all of these circumstances may not only counteract long lasting sobriety for the alcohol dependent individual but they can also result in relapse and consequently negate one’s sobriety.

The Good News: Quality Help is Readily Available

In an attempt to “protect” the family alcoholic, family members can essentially cause unintentional damage by enabling the harmful drinking behavior of the alcohol addicted individual.

The alcohol abuse research literature highlights the fact that most individuals who successfully complete alcohol rehab experience at least one relapse. Alcohol dependent individuals and their family members need to know this so that they do not get crestfallen or beleaguered when a relapse manifests itself.

Fortunately, taking part in support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous and follow-up therapy and education have resulted in more effective, long-term alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction treatment results, have helped decrease alcohol relapses, and have helped recovering alcohol addicted persons accomplish long standing sobriety.