Managing alcohol abuse in a family context.

Abstract

Treatment of alcohol abuse may be initiated by the person with the alcohol problem, the spouse or another family member. When the patient and the family confront the problem, established behavior patterns may be disrupted. Specific resources, such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Al-Anon, can help the family physician successfully manage substance abuse within a family context. Specific techniques and approaches directed at the patient, such as helping the patient acknowledge the problem, using the medical model to achieve a successful referral and challenging the patient to a four-week period of abstinence, are valuable tools for the family physician. Other techniques aimed at the spouse, such as enlisting the spouse's cooperation, using the spouse's energy and using the medical model to help the spouse and other family members obtain treatment, are also effective.