"Thank you for applying common sense"

Some 6 weeks ago I accompanied my 31 year old son to Gloucestershire Royal Hospital. He was taken there by ambulance whilst in the grip of a sever panic attack, most probably brought on by his severe alcohol consumption over the previous several days. The ambulance staff spoke to a doctor and we were told we would need to wait but would be seen.

After about an hour we were called into a room (a proper room with walls and a door so private) by a male doctor, maybe late 30's, early 40's. He told my son quite straightforwardly that he was in no danger from any heart problems, it was imaginary - and if he didn't want to stop drinking he should work out what level of alcohol he needed to maintain his state and consume that. Told him there was absolutely nothing the hospital could do for him. Since the family had spent days and weeks trying to keep him away from drink and failed I asked if that meant that I was in a similar position to the parent of a drug addict who had to go out and get the necessary supplies? The answer was 'Yes'. My son was visibly shocked at this approach and, as we left the hospital, said 'that wasn't very helpful was it?'

Actually it was. It underlined the fact that only he can help himself, and that his family were victims too and 24 hours later he decided he would give abstinence a try. He's had 1 wobble since then, but only a small one.

So thank you very much for applying common sense and directness to the problem presented.