I occasionally watch the ones who are hard core alcoholics. My brother could be on that show, but he is past the point of help. He can stay sober for a SHORT period of time, like when he was in jail.
But we have heard it so many times that he has stopped drinking.
He even says stopping is not the hard part. He's done it hundreds of times!
He almost died last year because his liver was shutting down, and was even in a nursing home. (And this is a man not even 55 yet.) No way will he live to age 60. Any time now I would consider borrowed time for him.
And our parents NEVER drank. (I never have either. Just could not ever overcome the yucky burning taste.)
I have another brother who is the most predictable, stable man you could imagine. No one else in our family has a chemical addiction problem like my one brother. (Well -- me and Disney. That is an addiction.
But I see that as a plus. It is not detrimental to my lifestyle of my family.)
Why he took that path from a family who never drank, and siblings who don't drink much at all, if anything. We all lived in the same houselhold, with parents who never divorced. No abuse in our family.
But I see his problem as a crutch for him not being able to or want to try to handle anything that bothers him.
Even if he managed to stop drinking alcohol now, he has one foot in the grave at this point.
I look at him and my DH, who are nearly the same age, I have to remind myself my brother is not in his 60's, but in his 50's. He looks rough.
We all have our addictions. Some will just kill them long before their time no matter how they try to work it.
Those shows always amaze me the deceipt and lying that goes on. And so many women seem to cry over loosing their babies, and that is where part of their pain comes from. But yet won't give up the drug for those babies they say they love so much.
...i was just making an observation .. 
