Hello, I am very familiar with addiction including personal family members and professional experience. I have only seen one man completely overcome alcohol addiction. The only way he was able to do this was complete abstinence. His driving force was his family.
There’s a theory that alcohol addiction is actually strongly linked to vitamin deficiency. As the alcoholic continues to drink, they do not eat as much because the sugar/carbs from the alcohol fills them up. So they are essentially starving their bodies. There is an idea that vitamin replacement in the form of IV can help the body overcome it. You have heard of these when you are “hung over” I’m sure.
Then there is another theory that complicates it even further. The theory they are self medicating due to a mental health issue they are unaware of. Depression, anxiety, etc.
There are so many factors that contribute to alcoholism, or any addiction, and there is no one answer. I believe it takes the person realizing it’s a problem. Then the combined efforts of family, therapists, mental health advisors, and doctors to begin a program to help with intervention.
However, the most important element I believe, and is often not addressed, addiction becomes a family problem. If the entire immediate family does not get involved in therapy, there is little chance that it can be overcome. It effects everyone.