Actually, he didn't call me, his wife did. She was concerned about his health because he had been drinking a whole lot for a long time.
Anyway, when his wife called we talked briefly then she put him the phone. He was very cordial and spoke quite openly about his drinking and what a problem it had become in his life. He mentioned his health issues, the financial setbacks they had because of his drinking and the fact that he needed to quit. He knew he was destroying his life but there's just no way he could get to treatment because he didn't have the time to be away from work.
But when I suggested that he go into our outpatient clinic or our halfway house program he dug in his heels. He said that he couldn't be off of his job and that he needed to be home to take care of his wife.
When I suggested that he could keep his job while living at our halfway house he seemed interested. However, that quickly changed when I found out that he worked as a bartender three nights a week. Our program doesn't allow clients to do certain jobs, including bartending, driving taxicabs or other occupations that might threaten their recovery. He told me that he wasn't allowed to drink on his job and that they had cameras that kept him from doing that. But I told him that didn't make any difference, that he couldn't work in a bar and be in our program. And that was the end of our conversation.
However, within a week I had an update on his situation. It seems that one day after work he was discovered sitting in the car in his driveway, passed out with the remains of a fifth of vodka at his side. When he was finally aroused and told to go into the house he stood up and fell flat on his face.
However, within a week I had an update on his situation. It seems that one day after work he was discovered sitting in the car in his driveway, passed out with the remains of a fifth of vodka at his side. When he was finally aroused and told to go into the house he stood up and fell flat on his face.
As a result of the fall, he lost his front teeth, flattened his nose and broke bones in his face. From what I understand he no longer can work because he has no teeth and is in some type of hospital or care facility recuperating from the fall.
Sometimes life intervenes with us alcoholics and addicts and then we have a chance to get sober and rebuild our lives. Hopefully, that's what will happen for this man.
