Alcoholism is not an addiction, as I understand it. It was explained to me that if you put 10 people in a room & gv them noting but heroin they will all be addicted to heroin.
If you put 10 people in a room & gv them nothing but alcohol only those with the disease of alcoholism will be Alcoholics.
Alcohol doesn't process thru the body of an alcoholic the same way that it does non-alcoholics. The system of Alcoholics is different, that is why the AMA defines it as a disease.
Al-anon helped me greatly with my family or origin issues as well as those that have many other issues,
As far as my son, I cldn't detach. It helped to a degree to be able to see that he has a disease & to not take things personally.