[fcoleman43]

I have a friend whose father is an alcoholic. My friend is 18 now and his father started consuming alcohol long before he was born. He drinks a lot every day. At least goes through a 6 pack every 4 hours or so. He does not fall asleep at night - he passes out from all that alcohol consuming. He's been doing the same routine for over years. He's always intoxicated. Never sober. Beer is like his water.

My question is, how is he capable of doing normal routines daily? Like, work, calculate simple math accurately, even drive safely. Let alone remember what he did 3 hours ago, what he said to whom 2 hours ago, or what he ate 5 minutes ago. I guess what I'm trying to imply is; All those years of consuming alcohol, why hasn't it done any severe damage other than diabetes?

2ND question. He received helped last year. Checked himself into Rehab. Went there for a week. Visited often and about the third day, he was jittery, anxious and his eyes shifted from side to side rapidly like he's cornered. The day before his last at Rehab, he was diagnosed with diabetes but he looked normal. Like nothing happened. He's been sober ever since. My question is; All those years of consuming alcohol was solved with just one week into rehab? What do they do there? How did that happen? Is he going to remain sober for the rest of his life?

Questions out of curiosity

[bwattson]

All that alcohol would have certainly caused some liver damage.

[J.P.H]

make the world go away.......hes used for money people have no choice but to try to do the daily routines and all kinds people work while drunk drive while drunk have sex while drunk make baby's while drunk grocery shop while drunk its like cigarettes and drugs lets isolate all alcohol all cigarettes all drugs for a moment what are we supposed to do with em all.. its probably done tons of severe damage hasn't showed up yet .. it either shows up later or kills us MEAN WORLD HONEY.. ITS MONEY HONEY ITS ALL ABOUT MONEY... if he remains sober for the rest of his life he will either go insane around drunks or its a miracle from GOD.. SIGH.. he didn't check into a rehab its all organized out there honey... money..

[maplewoodjoe]

After years you would build up a tolerance, he likely is not hammered during work or while driving and you can function normal just fine on a few drinks especially if you are a seasoned drinker.

He likely has liver damage.

Some people can go cold turkey, it is rare and he is damn lucky. Only time can say if he will remain sober.

[whoa.]

Isn't diabetes enough? It can be serious. It really can take a long time to do irreversible damage in many people, so maybe your friend's dad isn't old enough yet to have had any other stuff happen. If he's lucky and stays sober, a lot of the damage will repair itself in time. Everyone's body is different. My dad is an alcoholic who didn't sober up until he was in his late forties. He's about to turn 80, is in good physical health and his brain works just fine. I knew someone in his early forties who had a serious drinking problem, was hardly ever sober and awake at the same time. He sobered up, I heard, but I didn't see the guy again for 5 years. He looked so different from the last time I saw him, i didn't even recognize him for a couple of minutes. I've also known someone who had a drinking problem though I didn't think he drank as much as the guy I just mentioned. He was dead from cirrhosis at 42.

As for what they do in rehab, you probably should read some about that. It's too big to get into here, but your friend's dad must have been ready for it. It doesn't take very well in those who aren't. Will he stay sober? There's no telling for sure but if he's made it for a year, his chances are pretty good. I hope your friend knows about Adult Children of Alcoholics, because if he grew up with a drinking parent, it has had some effects on him that he needs to be aware of.