If someone you love is struggling with alcoholism you may feel like there is nothing you can do.

You can help. Here is how:

If you want to help an alcoholic and see their addiction affecting their life in a negative way yet they remain completely resistant to help or change, you have to take action to save their life.

They may not realize how their alcohol addiction is hurting them or that they are putting their own life in danger. That is why they need you to step up and get the help they need.

1. Get assistance.

Unless you are a trained professional, you are not qualified to rescue your loved one from the clutches of their addiction alone. Find local organizations such as Al-anon or the assistance of a crisis intervention specialist who will give real life advice on your specific situation.

2. Do your research.

You have to understand alcoholism and know exactly what it takes to kick the habit before you can be helpful to your loved one. The first thing they will say to you when you try to intervene is that you don't understand what it's like. You have to make yourself understand so you know what they are going through and know how to react to them so it is helpful to their recovery.

3. Stop enabling behaviors.

As you do your research you should be able to identify ways in which you enable your loved ones addiction. It is your job to stop those enabling behaviors right away.

4. Assess their state of mind.

Their reaction to you stopping those enabling behaviors will likely give you a clue as to what their state of mind is regarding the addiction. If they seem to be at their bottom where they want to change then you may be able to take a softer, loving approach that coaxes them into treatment. If they are still in the full throes of alcoholism and aren't ready to change or quit drinking, then you may need to be a bit harder on them.

5. Set the rules and let them choose their own destiny.

If they are not quite ready to go straight to rehab then lay down the rules as far as what you expect from them. You have to e very clear what you will no longer tolerate and give consequences.

Finally, you have to follow through with your word, even if it means allowing them to face devastating consequences for their own behaviors. It is painful to watch them face those consequences and you may feel you are turning your back on them, but this may be what they need to realize they need to change.

6. Make arrangements for detox and rehab.

If it is clear they still will not seek help willingly, go ahead and arrange for detox and rehab and follow on to step 7.

7. Schedule a timely intervention with loved ones.

Once you have laid down the rules and they have broken them and are suffering the consequences, expect that their life is in a downward spiral. This is a great time to call together other loved ones and hold an intervention.

Everyone should give their personal encounters of how the addiction has affected their own lives and relationships and make it very clear that rehab is the only option left. Again, there should be consequences that will make their life even worse if they do not agree to treatment.