CAN ANYBODY HELP ME? PLEASE - AT END OF MY TETHER

[alcoholicdad]

My dad is an alcoholic and has been for years it is just now that we are realising it. He goes to the doctor after each lapse (he is a binge drinker not a daily dependant) and the doctor is rubbish. He has even been told that he will be ok if he drinks in front of the family rather than hiding it. My dad does want help but doesn't know where to go.
He has been to 2 AA meetings and he didn't get anything out of them - in fact he feels he is "above" the people there as he "isn't as bad as them".
My brother even followed him home from work one night (my dad works 1 evening a week) and said he was swerving then before he got home he stopped and got out of the car to put an empty bottle of vodka in the bottle bank before continuing home - yes he knows how silly this is but the illness of alcoholism is irrational.
No-one seems able (health professionals) to take him seriously or get him some help.
What can we as a family do? We are at the end of our tether.

you can join alanon for famililes of alcoholics

there is very little you can do to help... an alcoholic or any addict needs to help themeselves but

don't endorse the habit by lending money/buying the drinks etc

perhaps individual counselling would suit him better, some people don't like the alcoholics anonymous approach

That's another thing - the doctor was supposd to get him referred for councelling weeks ago but nothing seems to have been done or come through whereas when I had depression I was seen within a couple of weeks!

I had a row with dad a fortnight ago and told him that he is always waiting for other people to sort him out. He needs to get help himself.

Could he just book himself into a rehab centre? or do they need referrals by GP's because frankly I wouldn't wipe my backside on his GP the way I feel at the moment. fancy telling a confessed alcoholic to drink moderatley and in front of people!!

From a medical point of view, he needs to go back to the gp with you and asked to be admitted to hosp for a medical detox. They have an olbligation to do it if he expresses a clear wish to.
(alcohol withdrawal has a 10% mortality rate and should be done under medical supervision)
Whilst in hopsital make sure he is seen by the psych consultant.
Have no personal experience of it but form a hosp pov this is what shoudl happen. Then make sure you and your dad have an adequate support network for his discharge. He needs a support worker, and you need a support network too.

Perhaps consider changing GPs?
Look up a local alcohol addiction councilor and they should tell you who the most sympathtic /qualified gp is.

mental health facilities tend to be overstretched, he would need a referral I'm sure unless he went to a private one (but is residential rehab going to help?)

That is a difficult situation I have seen so many times and it is frustrating for you, but your dad needs to push for the detox referralk with you, you cant do it for him.