Lucy Tompkins

He was still drinking pretty heavily. He knew AA was available, but he wasn't really interested at that point in getting sober. But then in May... Okay, good morning. Check, check. We're at Community First. Daily producer Olivia Nat and I went back to Community First. How are you doing?

He was still drinking pretty heavily. He knew AA was available, but he wasn't really interested at that point in getting sober. But then in May... Okay, good morning. Check, check. We're at Community First. Daily producer Olivia Nat and I went back to Community First. How are you doing?

He talked about himself staying there long term. He had relationships with his neighbors.

He talked about himself staying there long term. He had relationships with his neighbors.

He seemed a lot more settled into the community and had come to kind of think of himself as the neighborhood dad. He was barbecuing for his neighbors on Sundays. Definitely was talking about this place in a more permanent way. But he also said he was still struggling with his drinking, and it wasn't really clear what path he was on to recovery, if anything.

He seemed a lot more settled into the community and had come to kind of think of himself as the neighborhood dad. He was barbecuing for his neighbors on Sundays. Definitely was talking about this place in a more permanent way. But he also said he was still struggling with his drinking, and it wasn't really clear what path he was on to recovery, if anything.

It seemed like he was holding on to stability, but a little bit shakily. Why do you think your mom asked you that question?

It seemed like he was holding on to stability, but a little bit shakily. Why do you think your mom asked you that question?

And it sounded like his loved ones were still holding their breath.

And it sounded like his loved ones were still holding their breath.

Hey, Justin, it's Lucy. And a couple days ago, I called Justin to check in on him.

Hey, Justin, it's Lucy. And a couple days ago, I called Justin to check in on him.

where he wasn't really leaving his house. He was ordering bottles of whiskey to be delivered to him. Things just got really dark, and he eventually decided to try to quit cold turkey, and that went really badly. His body just couldn't handle it.

where he wasn't really leaving his house. He was ordering bottles of whiskey to be delivered to him. Things just got really dark, and he eventually decided to try to quit cold turkey, and that went really badly. His body just couldn't handle it.

He stayed in the ICU for several days. And then when he got out... Have you been sober this long before? No.

He stayed in the ICU for several days. And then when he got out... Have you been sober this long before? No.

I think he just felt like if he kept drinking, it would kill him. And he's now been sober for five months, which is the longest he's ever gone without drinking.

I think he just felt like if he kept drinking, it would kill him. And he's now been sober for five months, which is the longest he's ever gone without drinking.

Yeah, I think that's one of the tough parts about reporting on this topic is we tend to lose sight of the fact that people are dealing with really serious ongoing issues and their progress isn't linear. And Justin's story is a reminder of that.

Yeah, I think that's one of the tough parts about reporting on this topic is we tend to lose sight of the fact that people are dealing with really serious ongoing issues and their progress isn't linear. And Justin's story is a reminder of that.