Going cold turkey if someone drinks large amounts of alcohol every day will cause seizures .
The best way to detox at home is to ask a doctor for some Librium or cut down amount of alcohol over time.
My bf is 17 months sober and he cut down gradually, then one day he just quit.
He detoxed at home and used benzodiazepines. He enrolled into AA and went twice a week.
Good luck !!!!

Good for them! Siblings can reach down into powerful parts of the emotional world and make quite an impression. I hope that is a sign that your AH is convinced now is the right time to admit his problem is needing a solution.

To your question - Yes, without going through an inpatient or a clinic-type rehab program, he CAN become and stay sober. That works for some people. It worked for me. My last drink was 21+ years ago.

You (collectively) want to do this right so it has the highest probability of success.

I would highly recommend that he see a doctor and put all the proverbial cards on the table and follow the doctor's instructions about detoxing. It is a good positive way of starting the journey and a chance to get baseline medical information.

A script for Naltrexone will eliminate the physical cravings and is a good 1st move - followed by an AA meeting every day to start with. The doctor will probably want a visit every week or two to monitor physical progress.

Depending on his level of average consumption and the degree of physical dependency going full cold turkey might have some physical risks and harsh withdrawal symptoms.

It isn't ideal, but "controlled drinking" just enough to handle the cravings and stave off withdrawal problems until he can see the doctor is probably better than cold turkey and DTs. This is hard enough without one's body freaking out too.

The physical dependency side of the coin operates at a very low "fight or flight" instinct level. The motivations for drinking, self-medicating, seeking emotional escape, etc... are on an utterly different plane of existence. Alcohol is so devious because it lies and hijacks the alcoholic's decision making on several levels. Still repugnant and deplorable, but a lot more complicated than many might think.

The culture of sobriety can be scary. When I first stopped drinking I felt like I was dropped in to a foreign country without speaking the language.

There is a decent and active alcoholic support group here on Daily Strength that might be good for him (or you) to check out. It doesn't replace AA in my estimation, but it is another tool in the toolbox.

I hope this will be a day that you all can look back on and say. "that's when things started getting better."

may the force be with you.

My AH went cold turkey more or less and has been off alcohol for 5 months, barring one blip. However, it's for a very strange reason that he's able to do it - he was made redundant last year and was close to rock bottom, I deliberately let go and then discovered his first girlfriend had contacted him and basically 'groomed' him on Facebook, so rather than hitting rock bottom he started an affair and is getting all the attention he wants from her. I'm told that the dopamine produced during an affair type relationship can replace alcohol because alcohol produces dopamine as well.
I really wonder how long his abstinence will last and it is very tough for me, having coped for 15 years with his alcoholism, to see a manipulative and undeserving woman have the sobriety I longed for.

Oh my god forestcat I am so sorry to hear all you have been thro and don't deserve any of that , to put up with an alcohlic for that long and then for him to thank you with an affair is totally out of order but least you know if him been sober doesn't last at least you don't have the burden of having to deal with all the moods and stress that alcoholics bring us, . My AH is on day 1 of been sober and is going to the Doctor in the morning to see his next step we are together 10 years and this is his first ever attempt at been sober so I'm hoping for the best as it has got pretty bad