“A young person who is struggling with alcoholism is in acute and urgent need of help.” “Alcohol abuse-drunkenness-is a sin. Scripture is clear on this point. But once a person is an alcoholic, once he has allowed his will to be captured by alcohol through abuse, he is sick. He can no longer help himself. To tell an alcoholic to shape up and stop drinking is like telling a man who has just jumped off a nine-story building to gall only three floors. It just isn’t going to happen. If we defined alcoholism as a physical disease, without a spiritual dimension, that might be humanism. [But alcoholism affects a person] physically, mentally, and spiritually. He will not get well unless he is treated in all three areas.”

My job [according to Josh McDowell], is 6 parts; Listen, empathize, affirm, direct, enlist, and refer.

It is imperative I LISTEN to the teen not argue, or try to preach at or argue with the teen, as we LISTEN we need to be sure to EMPATHIZE and try to see beyond what they are doing but rather strive to feel and think what they are. We need to “let my gentleness be known”, and let them see my willingness to understand them by; being available, looking at them, allowing my body language to say we am engaged and interested, repeating important statements they make, and always stay patient. Throughout the process of EMPATHIZEING we need to be sure to AFFIRM them, not condemn them as a person [yes of how they are behaving]. Help them see themselves through God’s eyes. As we are AFFIRMING we need to be sure to DIRECT the teen to an understanding [on their own], that they have a problem. We can ask pointed questions, such as; do you sometimes look forward to drinking when you should be doing something else? Are you able to drink more than you used to while remaining remarkably functional? When you are upset or sad, do you ever think, “if I could just have a drink, I’d feel better”? Another step in directing the teen is to “turn the young person toward God”, lead them in confession to God. Third, “inform and involve the youth’s parents. And lastly “review the options for treatment”. After we have DIRECTED the teen, the next step is to ENLIST and REFER the teen to a professional.