Alcoholic Dead at 22

[DaGaffer]

I've said this before, for 99.9% of us, drinking, even heavy drinking, is something we'll do when we're young and then grow out of. The price will be guys like this and all the hand-wringing in the world isn't going to change that. I'm not going to judge him as I know nothing about him, but he and others like him are simply the price of living in a liberal society. Shit for him and his family, but better that than the alternative.

NB. He must have been really caning it to get in that state at his age; the liver is pretty remarkable as its actually incredibly resiliant and can grow back even when cut away (liver cancer is what ultimately killed my Dad so I go to know about this stuff even if I didn't want to), and that's why drinking when young isn't an issue for most of us, because most of us gradually cut back as we get older. The amount he must have abused his system suggests that a transplant would have been wasted on him anyway.

 

[ZiggY]

He wasnt famous then?..A spokesman for University College Hospital said: “Our sympathies are with his family at this time.”

 

[Wij]

10 units a day here. A few more at weekends but not a lot since I like being merry but hate being drunk. But I now have a night or two off during the week to keep Mrs Wij happy :/

It certainly works out over 60 units a week. Has done for over 10 years (36 now). Most of my friends think I'm a bit of an alcy I don't drink spirits though and I'll do anything to avoid having enough to give me a hangover.

I had a liver test a couple of months back and was told it was fine.

I love alcohol. It's the taste

 

[SilverHood]

My sympathies to his family, sounds like his life was pretty fucked up at a young age.

I don't think it's purely based on alcohol though - general health comes into it too. If you're reasonably active, eat healthy, etc, the your body can take a tonne of punishment without battering an eyelid. I know when I was younger, my motto was "The liver is evil. It must die". But I was sporty at Uni, and ate healthy food.

 

[Embattle]

It is a sad case without question but it is self induced so my personal sympathy is limited. I've always been concerned at this air of invincibility that youngsters seem to think they have when it comes to drinking to destruction, the simple truth of it is that a good proportion will eventually have pay for it.

The other fact is in no way was he going to stand much of a chance of getting a liver rules or not, besides being rare the idea of putting one in someone who was probably still drinking up until he entered hospital would of had the same result as throwing the liver into a tub of acid.

 

[soze]

Does anyone know the rules on voluntary organ donations? The comment at the end of the article claims livers do not have a high rejection rate so if his family honestly though he could change why no offer a partial transplant?

 

[Trem]

I personally don't understand how people can become alcoholics, I don't mean to sound high and mighty, obviously its a serious problem for some people and I'm very sorry to hear about your dad Trem, but as weird as it sounds I really don't enjoy the taste of alcohol and I really don't enjoy being drunk. Throughout my life I have had to force myself to go out drinking with my friends and often will just drive and drink water all night instead. To give you an idea I've been drunk once this year and I only really drink to get drunk, so my intake is very very low. Is anybody else the same as me or am I unique?

I used to say exactly the same thing.....then I got used to the taste

With my dad it started as a social thing (he was a car dealer) then when it went tits up with my mum he drank to feel numb. He adored her, worshipped her then the affairs started and he simply couldn't take it. She's my mum and I love her but I truly believe she killed my dad. Not my mums fault he turned to drink but it was her fault he needed to be numb.

 

[old.Tohtori]

Well, not really in a position to say this way or that as frankly i don't care that much, but from a neutral point of view;

Until livers and other transplant organs can be harvested/grown in a massive supply, these things go as they go. Potentially longer living people first.

No point crying over spilled..err..beer?

 

[Wij]

Spilled beer ?!?

*cry*

 

[DaGaffer]

...when it comes to drinking to destruction, the simple truth of it is that a good proportion will eventually have pay for it.

Except that's not true; the vast majority of people go through their drinking phase with no long term damage. Don't believe the health nazi hype.

 

[old.Tohtori]

DaGaffer, i always use the Keith Richards defense on health nazis of any type

It's about the person, not about the habits.

 

[Damini]

Apparently this guy was drinking a bottle of vodka a day up until he was admitted to hospital, and he lost a job when he was 16 due to his alcohol addiction. This isn't simply binge drinking, this is someone who is a full scale alcoholic.

My godmother died on Friday because of drink. The worst part about dying from liver failure is the fact that you are perfectly lucid right up until the end, while your body gives up all around you. I saw her on Thursday, and she was gone Friday. My godfather died from the drink a year before, and she'd seen it happen, but still couldn't leave it alone. It's heart breaking, and selfishly I would have loved for her to have a new liver, another chance, but she was warned last year that if she carried on drinking she would die (she began vomiting blood in a car park) and she did stop for many many months, probably more than the six months that are required for a new liver, but as soon as a hurdle came up (she was diagnosed with throat cancer, which she was beating) she fell straight back into old habits. She was a great lady, very funny, very bright, but she couldn't steer her life away from the drinks cabinet.

When I drink, I tend to drink. But I've never understood the way people can get addicted to it - I guess it's just not part of my chemistry. I never drink at home, the idea of hair of the dog makes my stomach turn, and these days my hangovers tend to have a evil edge of depression and a sense that I've done something terrible that I don't recall, like killed a prostitute in Vegas, even if I've remained with it the whole night. But I know many people who are drawn to it, and can't stop, and while I can empathise with the person, I'd have to say that alcoholics shouldn't be given new livers when their is someone else it can go to instead.

 

[Wij]

Drinking at home is the best. Especially on your own \o/

 

[tris-]

You probably should have 2 days off it a week. Apparently it gives the liver a chance to sort its shit out before you pummel it again.
Even drinking everyday although a small amount APPARENTLY causes liver problems, because it is not designed to constantly remove toxins.

Personally my limited knowledge of biology tells me that is the whole fucking purpose of the thing, but what do i know.

 

[Trem]

Drinking at home is the best. Especially on your own \o/

Word!

I also can't drink before 7pm, when we go out for a meal in the day or before that time I don't have a drink. Just do not enjoy day drinking.

 

[Moriath]

you always feel more drunk if you drink in the day than you do if you have the same amount at night for some reason

 

[tris-]

I just had a pint on my cycle back from the place i have just been to and from.
Certaintly feel a 'buz' of somesort, might be the dehydration!

 

[old.Tohtori]

The longer a day goes, the stronger your brain gets, to a point.

So early in the morning, i think anthony bourdain said it, your brain is all mushy and alcohol attacks it better.

Later in the evening, the brain can take more.

Also how much you've eaten, what you've eaten effects. Eat some eggs or yoghurt and the stomach gets a nice lining to prevent the alcohol through.

Hangover is deadly, 'cause you don't feel the alcohol as well as the hangover, so it sneak-attacks you.

Also dehydration effects as more drink is absorbed into your body.

These are all "hay science", so i'm not at all sure about their theoretical proof

 

[Embattle]

Except that's not true; the vast majority of people go through their drinking phase with no long term damage. Don't believe the health nazi hype.

My terms weren't that they would all suffer liver problems but more a case of some health impact but then again you can't exactly say later on in life what caused something very easily due to timeframe and other social factors.

I never saw much point in following my friends when we were younger, the idea of spending loads of cash to feel shit didn't appeal although that might partly be down to seeing other Alcoholics and the odd health issue I had in the past even without drinking.

My mum had a true Alcoholic friend who generally didn't stop drinking and even now he should probably be dead but even though still alive the simple fact is he can't walk and has various issues all over his body.

A second chance isn't a right, it is a possibility thus we should all perhaps be a bit more careful at times.