How do I help my alcoholic friend

Steve_Jones said:

Pretty sure a canoe brought this back, but for an update on my comments, they told My Brother he had 2 years or so if he stopped drinking, or 2 months or so if he didn't. He chose the months and died in June at 57. 

Man that is sad.  I pretty much quit drinking years ago.  I traveled a lot for my job and most of my co-workers wanted to meet up at bars.  After watching them get loaded (on the company expense account) and cheat on their wives like it was nothing, I started being the odd wheel and not attending.  Didn't help that my father died at 45 from alcohol abuse.  For years I had company physicals which generated a letter telling me I needed to curb my alcohol intake.  It seems I have fatty liver now.  If I had kept drinking I seriously doubt I would still be here.  I now question if this was part of my fathers problem.    

In reply to Steve_Jones :

I'm sure you had long before come to terms with it, but sorry for your loss, Steve.

Sorry to hear that Steve. ☹️

In reply to Duke :

I appreciate it, and yes about 40 years to watch it unfold, but typing it out sucks. He was ok with it, so I can't judge him. I will never understand it, but came to accept it a long, long time ago. 

Sorry to hear that Steve. That reminds me of my uncle. He got a DUI, and around 30-35 was put in the hospital. Doctors dried him out, kept him in rehab, and said they'd know in about 2 weeks if he was going to live for less than 2 months or if his liver could recover. He's about 40 years sober now, except that he's a stoner - I remember being shocked when I found out that the country club member, successful business owner, athletic guy had been partaking most of my life. 
 

My ramblings: you're not going to be able to help someone who doesn't want help. And even if they do want help, they may be unable to accept it.
 

My brother is also an alcoholic. Been through AA and rehab a few times. I think he's been sober for a about 90% of the last 4 years, but there have been at least 2 relapses. The amount of empty fifths under his bed when I first found them sure was a defeating feeling. At least he seems committed to the sobriety even with slipups. 
 

My other brother, I'm more worried about. One of his best friends drank himself to death about a year ago. Not fun at 35. My brother has other issues, I'm hoping he starts a GLP-1 soon, which are proving to be somewhat miraculous for many addictions. 
 

Myself, I don't know what I'd call my relationship. I really love good beer. I try to find beer that is the lowest alcohol while still being delicious, partially because I hate hangovers, partially because I want to drink more beer. I'll often drink 6 in a night without realizing it. Then I'll go 4 months without a drop of alcohol, not because it's a conscious decision but I just don't want any. But my issue is that I'm seemingly always binging on something. Beer, weed, food, phone/internet, my comfort books... I can drop any of them when I need to (haven't had any weed in over a year) but I seemingly always need one of them. I guess that's a long way of saying depression sucks and I wish finding a depression/anxiety/adhd med that worked was easier for me.