Doesn’t an alcoholic need to want help before treatment or support groups will do any good?
That idea is based on a lack of understanding of alcoholism. What makes alcoholics “want help” is when they are forced to face the consequences of their own behavior. Any help in avoiding the problems that their drinking has caused postpones their recovery. Most alcoholics in recovery will state that they became motivated in recovery during treatment after several days or in some cases even weeks of detoxification. If they are shielded from the consequences it supports the pathology. It is always devastating consequences that drive alcoholics into treatment. There seems to be a belief that at some point alcoholics just decide they want recovery without serious consequences forcing them there and that is a myth.
