My friend is desperate

by Michael John
(Connecticut)

My friend who I have known for almost 30 years, recently lost his house, his wife is threatening divorce, and he cannot stop drinking, and the drinking has gotten progressively worse.

I myself have battled and overcame drug and alcohol dependency, but i have insurance. My friend..does not have any insurance or funds to get care.

What should I do? He is willing to go to a emergency room, but his concern is that with no insurance, they will turn him down.

He is extremely depressed, drinks all hours of the night and day, he has always been a beer drinker, but now he admits to buying and drinking cheap vodka "nips" at the rate of 5-10 a day to "kill his pain" as he says.

I have tried to talk to him, tell him that he has a wife who loves him and wants him back the way he used to be, and that is why she is so upset with him in his current state.

He has a 23 year old daughter, and a 21 year old son, and he doesn't care about anything but numbing himself with whatever he can get his hands on cheaply.

He is my closest friend and I see him dying if he does not stop, and nothing I say has any lasting impression on him even though I have gone through drug and alcohol dependence myself.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.