Does anyone really get over an addiction?

I have a cousin who comes from a long line of alcoholics. He's been drinking for many many years now and will not admit he has a problem. He looked down on his mother for drinking but now he has the same addiction. How do I approach him?

Detach with love and understanding. You have no control over the disease or his decision to combat it and seek recovery. What you can do is set up boundaries with him and tell him how his drinking affects you and makes you feel. You can also be the first to confront him and let him know that as long as he is drinking you dont' wish to be a part of his life. Its a horrible thing to have to do but by telling him that you can't bare witness or be around his disease and that you can only support him in his recovery he may decide to get help. I've been through this several times with family members and friends who are also addicts. I am a recovering addict and alcholic as well.

Fitnessbuff,

I just found out that my older 51 year old boyfriend is doing marijuana again in his life .I have been dating this man for the last 7 months and when I went to give him a kiss smelled a strong odor of smokers breath that he had gone back to smoking after he quit sadly I found out from him that he was smoking another form of weed. How do you deal with a man who does not see this as harmful , he said he started back in his 20's now this is later in his life and he still has not given it up? Should I just tell him that it's the weed or me ? Lost in this mess. Would like to know why this journalist has not been drug tested and how does he get away with not getting caught ? Give me a clue.

Thanks

It is customary to have a new employee drug tested however random or periodic testing of someone who is not operating machinery or motor vehicles in their profession is uncommon. The weed or me boundary is a good one particularly if you find that the drug is more important to him than  you or that your relationship changes due to the drug use. It is important to establish healthy boundaries with a person in order to take care of yourself. These are often tough to deal with personally and might feel a bit like cutting off your nose to spite your face. Breath deeply and know that everything is happening as it should and you are presented with an opportunity to take care of yourself rather than the other person and their drug habit

It depends on how badly it has ruined his life.  Has he hit bottom yet? If he is still functioning and managing to keep a job and pay his bills he might not think that it is a problem. maybe an intervention is necessary.