Ah I see. OK thats not easy but you always have options.
Firstly, using one substance to come off another is usually just kicking the can down the road, at some point it will come to a head, and don’t forget – he is self diagnosing, and self medicating using stuff likely bought from the Web – you see where in going here. It’s a shame about the doctor but you have some online options with the NHS if he is not helping.
I’m terms of not thinking he has a problem – that’s typical of an addict. We were all there at some stage but it’s pure fantasy, along with the notion you can stop when you want to. I’m not surprised, but it makes it harder for him to straighten out as this has to come from within.
Lots of addicts and alcoholics are lovely people… And many don’t fall into the stereotypical view of who they are and what they are like – it’s because there is so much misunderstanding about it these days.
Could I make a suggestion – would you be open to reading or watching some videos on addiction or alcoholism? This isn’t to give him a pass but give you an idea of what you are up against here as knowledge is power in the long run. I worry that if he isn’t admitting an issue then yiu are going to get stuck.
For me personally I had to hit Rick bottom twice to straighten out, once from drink and once from substances. The hell of withdrawal from the latter was like nothing I have ever experienced, it was awful