Kenton - you just completely blew up my imaginary picture of you!
Just didn't have you pegged as a runner (er physically, not emotionally).
I have a brother who admits to being an alchoholic. We don't talk about it a lot, but do some. And he has taken me to treatment a few times. The first time I went to treatment I called to ask him to take me but he couldn't cause he had drank again after 9 months of sobriety! (it is funny looking back).
It's different cause he does know he is alcoholic. But there have been times that mom has tried to figure out what to do and freaked out and I always felt a bit of peace about it. I guess I understood on a gut level that I couldn't really do anything except be the best sister I can be and hope for the best.
He is sober most of the time now. Of course that isn't totally accurate. He smokes pot when he can and is on very heavy pain killers as he has cancer. But without the alcohol he seems to do pretty good. I'm not sure he could really maintain sobriety for lengthy periods as he does now if he wasn't on regular doses of opioids.
I will send metta (loving kindness) to you and your sister tonight.