Exhaust every option counseling-wise and legal-wise, but NO level of discharge--even "dishonorable"--is so worth avoiding to put your life in mortal risk of such a horrible decision.
BTW, alcohol may not be the root cause, but it doesn't help and feeds the problem. Vicious spiral and all that.
WHATEVER you do, don't take the coward's way out. You and your family both deserve better.
Badger, your use of the word "coward" is a disgusting insult. However it turned out, I put myself our there for my country. It's so funny that we are all heroes but civilians turn on us in the blink of an eye.
I think it's pretty clear (considering the first paragraph) than the "coward's way" isn't discharge, but suicide, which is very selfish and cowardly.
Even a dishoronable discharge is better than death and by quite a margin.
