What to Do—Drinking Themself to Death
This is a very difficult situation as the law considers alcohol abuse a "lifestyle choice" even if it is being used to kill yourself.
It is extremely painful to watch a loved one destroy themselves in this manner. Do all you can do, follow these instructions exactly and there is a chance you may be able to get the person to sober up long enough to do an intervention.
- Call 911.
- Ask for an officer to come to the home for an assessment on an individual who you know is threatening suicide by alcohol poisoning. Indicate that the individual is blacking out, throwing up and has repeatedly indicated to family and friends that they are going to kill themselves by drinking themselves to death (alcohol is a poison).
- A police officer will come out assess the situation. If he feels like this person is endangering themselves or has the potential to endanger others, he will call a C. I. T. (Crisis Intervention Team) officer out.
- You will have to sign a 3rd party statement indicating that you heard this person threaten to kill themselves and they also indicated that if anyone got in their way they would be harmed and/or killed as well.
- If the C. I. T. Officer decides this person is a threat to themselves or others, they will transport the individual to the Crisis Center which will keep them in detoxification for 72 hours. However, if their health so indicates they will be transported to a health facility.
- After the 72-hour period, the individual will be taken before a judge who will decide the final disposition of the individual.
Note: the supervisor of the C. I. T. Team is Major Jim Fitzpatrick at 405-297-3407
Parents of teens recorded message (405) 629-6384
