How do i convince a friend to get help? He is 17, and his father has abused him, his mother, and his sister throughout his life. I know the father is a heavy drinker, and i know that is often a factor. He has held a knife to the mother's throat, made the children sleep outside in the middle of winter, knocked the children around, and, most recently, he nearly choked my friend to death after trying to help his mother. Fortunately, the father was arrested, but then my friend was threatened to be kicked out of his home by his abused mother. And then his father, once again, threatened the life of my friend if he ever got out of jail. I just don't know how to help my friend. It's brought me to tears just because i don't understand not only why a father can do this, but also why my friend can just brush it off like it's no big deal. I'm truly scared for my friend's life, but i don't know how to get through to him. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Ben Pilcher

-- Anonymous, June 28, 2001