My brother-in-law Richard McColl had a best friend, the best man at his wedding, in the 1980s. A very nice guy was Eddie, and this is what happened to Richard's MTA buddy because of his alcohol addiction:.
1. The MTA paid for rehab
2. The MTA paid again for rehab
3. The MTA fired him.
4. His wife thretaned to leave him…
5.. … over and over again.
6. His wife left him.
7. And she took custody of the mans son.
8. And the court eventually took away visitation rights.
9. The man moved back in with his father, broke and jobless
10. One morning his father discovered him dead in a chair in the living room.
I mention this story to prove, I think uncategorically, that alcoholism is a disease that can kill you. Nothing will ever convince me this man wouldn't have stopped if he could.
I mention this because the breaking story of Amy Winehouse returning to rehab is simply more of the same.
Despite my love for her only album, I don't much care what happens to her. Still, she has a serious disease and it is taking her life.