Help end medical misogyny. Sign our petition.

Help end medical misogyny.
Sign our petition.

Sign the petition

Please or to access all these features

Alcohol support

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Supporting a young adult child with alcohol dependency at home

32 replies

SimulationSwarm · 24/06/2026 01:11

Do any of you have a young adult child you’re supporting?
my YA is back from uni and for the first time has asked for help.
after at least two years of daily drinking- sometimes up to three bottles of wine, they are engaging with addiction support and we are tapering at home.

it’s exhausting and draining to be the parent supporting this.

Are there any others here?
I know there is the thread for people affected by other’s drinking but it’s mainly partners and this is my YA and I feel it’s different x

OP posts:
BreezyPeachGoose · 24/06/2026 06:00

No real advice other than to quote Gabor Maté: "it's not why the addiction, rather why the pain"

SimulationSwarm · 24/06/2026 07:21

Yeah- I agree.
we’ve tried to get them to the mental health team but they keep missing appointments

this time, they will be home so we will make sure they attend

OP posts:
Rocknrollstar · 24/06/2026 07:30

I’m sorry but there is little you can do. They have to want to change their lives and to accept they have an addiction and cannot drink, ever. Have they been to the GP? There will be local services available. In our area apart from AA there is a charity that has meetings nearly every day. Alcoholics only change their lives when they reach rock bottom and I will spare anyone on here from describing what that looks like but it is worse than you can imagine. I feel for you but this is out of your control
Remember:
You didn’t cause it
You can’t control it
You can’t cure it.

SimulationSwarm · 24/06/2026 08:11

I think picking them up from uni accom a month ago might have been their rock bottom.
they were having a panic attack as we arrived and the room was not pretty.
we cleared it up - removed all the amity bottles and mess and brought them home.
a few days later, they asked for hop and we are helping them taper their drinking - they go to an addiction charity once a month

OP posts:
CoolGreenBee · 24/06/2026 08:14

Gabor Mate ignores the fact that if you take too much of an addictive substance too regularly, you will become addicted.

That's literally how addictive substances work.

Sympathies OP, sounds like you're a great support.

Onewildandpreciouslife · 24/06/2026 08:41

I’m so sorry you’re going through this. The fact they’ve asked for help is positive.

I know the other thread you’re talking about, and there is at least one poster on there in your situation who has been posting quite recently, so it might be worth having another look.

Good luck to you and your child

SimulationSwarm · 24/06/2026 10:56

Thanks.
its a lonely club to be in.

I absolutely get that the other thread feels different.
But when your kid is 20yrs old and is the sweetest loveliest person who is just struggling with life, I don’t want to look into the future tbh.
and that thread feels like the future for them and those they love !

OP posts:
gotmyselfintoapickle · 24/06/2026 11:09

It's good they are asking for support and although it is scary, they absolutely can get well again. The good news is that at their age, the physical damage will be limited (vs 30 years of alcohol abuse).

AA have meeting for family members Al Anon - it's such a big community there should be something near you and if not they operate online too.

Good luck to you and your child.

SimulationSwarm · 24/06/2026 13:21

I’ve tried the support groups but tbh they have scared me.
the loved ones seem to be in a much worse place than my kid and there have been some arrests, jail and bereavements that I can’t cope with tbh.
I have a small group that meets online and facilitied by a local charity. It’s ok- but not quite enough ongoing help and I thought I’d start a thread here to see if there is none else here.
thanks for all your replies

OP posts:
pasanda · 28/06/2026 03:42

My 26yo ds has just started naltrexone ie the Sinclair Method. Have you looked into this?

Grumpynan · 28/06/2026 04:10

Hi, another mum her, my DD 27 is drinking a bottle of scotch a night, just been arrested again (police just phoned to tell us) she’s been missing since 12.30 this morning. Last night in A&e because she was found passed out in the road, we had been out looking her but had only realised she been gone for a few minutes she climbs out her bedroom window and we don’t know(this is a new one). She goes to AA who are brilliant but does depend on the group ao I suggest trying a few. Trying to get her into rehab but it a slow process.

she was doing so well then on Thursday heard a friend (aa friend) had been found died and it hit hard.

its so hard, you feel so alone, and dare I say sometimes ashamed. I get so frustrated that this is my life. What happened to my little girl what happened to the future I thought she would have, and why me ? I see mums out with their daughters and I’m struggling to hold my girl together to get her through another day.

SimulationSwarm · 28/06/2026 13:01

pasanda · 28/06/2026 03:42

My 26yo ds has just started naltrexone ie the Sinclair Method. Have you looked into this?

I’ve asked the doctor about this but just got shirts and the addiction worker seems oblivious tbh

can you let me know how it’s going?

OP posts:
SimulationSwarm · 28/06/2026 13:03

Grumpynan · 28/06/2026 04:10

Hi, another mum her, my DD 27 is drinking a bottle of scotch a night, just been arrested again (police just phoned to tell us) she’s been missing since 12.30 this morning. Last night in A&e because she was found passed out in the road, we had been out looking her but had only realised she been gone for a few minutes she climbs out her bedroom window and we don’t know(this is a new one). She goes to AA who are brilliant but does depend on the group ao I suggest trying a few. Trying to get her into rehab but it a slow process.

she was doing so well then on Thursday heard a friend (aa friend) had been found died and it hit hard.

its so hard, you feel so alone, and dare I say sometimes ashamed. I get so frustrated that this is my life. What happened to my little girl what happened to the future I thought she would have, and why me ? I see mums out with their daughters and I’m struggling to hold my girl together to get her through another day.

Absolutely- I feel like we are in another lockdown.
i feel worried about going out for the afternoon with friends.
ones hoping to have a gentle summer with trips out and a holiday but we are locked into this tapering and depression and anxiety and bless them, my kid I bloody lovely, but it’s hard!

OP posts:
gotmyselfintoapickle · 28/06/2026 13:51

SimulationSwarm · 28/06/2026 13:01

I’ve asked the doctor about this but just got shirts and the addiction worker seems oblivious tbh

can you let me know how it’s going?

I don’t have personal experience but I’ve just read a book called drink yourself sober by katie Herzog which is all about taking naltrexone to get sober. Could be worth a read (I actually listened to the audiobook).

pasanda · 29/06/2026 01:39

ive been on holiday since ds started taking the Nal so not seen anything first hand but he has told me that whilst he’s still got drunk (on nights out/bbq at home) he’s not continued once the evening finishes. This is a win for me! He has been 100% compliant, even on the nights where he only has a couple of pints. I am so pleased he is taking it seriously and wants so much for this to help.
AA and total abstinence, whilst the best possible outcome, is totally unrealistic at this time in his life. This seems the next best thing to help him reduce his intake.
Have you suggested it to your ds?

pasanda · 29/06/2026 01:40

Have you watched ‘One Little Pill’?

ThatJadeLion · 29/06/2026 02:01

I recovered after a couple of detoxes after being prescribed Baclofen off licence by a psychiatrist. It literally saved my life. Took 60mg per day for around 5 years. Now not taken it for years, not drank for years, don't miss it. Please try what you can, everyone is different and sometimes something just works for someone. Don't be fobbed off. Get the help you need x

doglikescheeseontoast · 29/06/2026 08:10

If your YA genuinely wishes to get help, are you or they in a position to fund a rehab? I attended one almost 4 years ago, and there were several YP there with various addictions.

ChateauMargaux · 29/06/2026 09:44

I got really good support on the other thread. .. but I hear you.

My young adult went to a community support group, not AA. There was a youth group and he was assigned a counsellor who he saw mostly on line. When this ended he found a counsellor through Better Help the he speaks to every week.

You should also find something for you, that is just about how you navigate this.

Google the vitamins and minerals depleted by alcohol and supplement those. Avena Sativa herbal tincture can help cravings and milk thistle can help protect the liver. Alcohol depresses the mood hormones so support the nervous system is a good place to start.. B12 at the very least...

If you can afford it, get holistic complementary support that includes dietary support as well as medical support. If you want some signposts on this let me know. Checking thyroid function would also be a good idea, and ideally supporting this if it is a problem, with food and food based supplements before pharmaceuticals.. but don't rule pharmaceuticals out.

Repeating what I said earlier, get support for yourself too. Stress depletes minerals so you would likely benefit from at the very least, magnesium.

pasanda · 01/07/2026 23:22

Have you suggested naltrexone to your DS op?

SimulationSwarm · 07/07/2026 11:49

pasanda · 01/07/2026 23:22

Have you suggested naltrexone to your DS op?

I haven’t as I don’t know anything about it.
the doctor doesn’t want to get involved and the addiction service seem to have a workbook approach and no real options

OP posts:
RoseOliviaAu · 07/07/2026 11:54

Rocknrollstar · 24/06/2026 07:30

I’m sorry but there is little you can do. They have to want to change their lives and to accept they have an addiction and cannot drink, ever. Have they been to the GP? There will be local services available. In our area apart from AA there is a charity that has meetings nearly every day. Alcoholics only change their lives when they reach rock bottom and I will spare anyone on here from describing what that looks like but it is worse than you can imagine. I feel for you but this is out of your control
Remember:
You didn’t cause it
You can’t control it
You can’t cure it.

I am a year sober and would not say I hit rock bottom… I certainly hit a wall of consequences but there was much further I could fall. I retained my job, grades, husband and the large % of my friendships.

There’s no point acting as though every alcoholic is identical. That’s not how humans work.

Tonissister · 07/07/2026 12:01

OP, no been in your situation, but by chance, saw a podcast the other day of Mel Robbins talking with psychiatrist Dr K about motivation, and he talked a lot about alcohol addiction as his main job is treating that issue.

He made some brilliant points which seem to go against AA's philosophy in an interesting way. His main point was: if you aim to be sober for 40 days and are sober for 39 days but drink on day 40 you have not failed. You have succeeded for the vast majority of the time, and can succeed again next day, so don't think of slip ups as signs of inability to succeed. I think that's important, because AA, if you drink, you are back to square one, whereas his philosophy would show, if, say, you lapse twice in a year, that you have been sober for 362 days - which is a massive achievement.

He also says ditch motivation. Motivation is a weakness not a strength. Because if we are motivated to do something, it's easy. So, no big deal. But it tempts us to avoid things we are not motivated to do, because they are hard and require effort. So he says - bypass motivation, just focus on a present moment action whether you want to do it or not. E.g. Decide: today's action is: buying an AF beer when meeting friends. Or, if tapering, adding a pint of sparkling water to a small glass of white wine, to make a weak spritzer that will take a while to drink at dinner time.

If you think it would help to watch this (and it might, because it is not about alochol issues - but about motivation, so might be a break from focusing on 'the problem') it's Mel Robbins podcast episode 208.

Tonissister · 07/07/2026 12:08

Something I tried to do when DS2 had serious eating and MH issues, was to focus on adding to his life. So instead of just focusing on the issues, we focused on things he loved, that made him happy. Not to ignore the problems, but to create light and breathing space around them. So maybe, as part of supporting your DC, discuss some easy to achieve projects that would make them feel good about what they can do - maybe redecorating their bedroom; helping out at a local community event; improving a fitness regime like running/cycling/swimming stamina; developing a skill like learning an instrument, drawing, writing; caring for an animal. Encourage them to take a moment to feel proud of every small achievement that moves them one step further away from identifying entirely as 'the person with a problem'. That is not the sum total of who they are.

Trumptontown · 07/07/2026 12:12

Naltrexone is meant to be prescribed after withdrawal, not during. Maybe you can speak to DC’s addiction service to see if it’s something they would be willing to consider. Acamprosate is another option.