Expert: Jan Edward Williams - 2/12/2008

Question
hi, nice to meet you !
i live in vietnam, 22
my father is 56, he drinks beer and wine 45C, when he drinks, he becomes sober quickly, he just want to get mess and doesn't want to sleep, he just keep talking, crying, and yelling at people in the house (our family) !
until 2.00 am, we can't sleep...
oh god, my mother worries, she is sad...
i am so tired, my study becomes bad...
my family is going to break...
is there a way that makes him give up drinking ?
please help me !

Answer
Hello Huy, It's nice to meet you too.
Your situation is difficult. The first thing to try to do is to not let your father's drinking also hurt you so much that you don't do well in school. It is important for you to take care of yourself. Alcoholism is a disease that is very powerful and you cannot expect to help your father on your own. Is there anyone else in the family that can support you and maybe help you to confront your father about his drinking? If you can get other important family members together and talk about your father's drinking, maybe all of you can sit your father down to help him to see how his drinking is hurting everyone. Good luck, and take care of yourself, Huy.
Jan Williams