Hi everyone,
I’m posting because we’re at a complete loss and don’t know what support or options even exist at this point.
My father is a long-term alcoholic. Over the last few years/ months he has had multiple serious falls while drinking, including breaking his neck twice, broken ribs, multiple trips to emergency, etc.
Despite this, he continues to drink heavily and refuses to acknowledge that alcohol is the issue.
He is now having frequent falls, still insists on driving, and will not accept help, medical advice, or family intervention.
Every incident falls entirely on my mother to manage – emotionally, physically and mentally. She is exhausted and clearly traumatised, but feels trapped and responsible for him.
We’re terrified it’s only a matter of time before he seriously injures or kills himself (or someone else if he keeps driving), but he will not listen to reason. He refuses rehab, denies there’s a problem, and becomes defensive or angry when it’s raised.
My questions are:
• What assistance or pathways actually exist when someone refuses help?
• Are there options around medical intervention, reporting unsafe driving, or external support that don’t rely on his consent?
• What support exists specifically for partners of alcoholics who are carrying everything?
• Has anyone been in a similar situation and found something that helped, even a little?
We’re not trying to control him – we’re just trying to stop the damage and keep people safe, especially my mother.
Any advice, resources, or shared experiences would be really appreciated. This feels like watching a slow-motion disaster and not knowing where to turn.
Thank you for reading.