Alcohol is a substance that is widely abused by many people here in the UK. The trouble is that most do not realise how dangerous this substance can actually be. While many would baulk at the idea of taking illegal drugs such as heroin or cocaine, the notion of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol does not seem to be an issue. This is likely to do with the fact that alcohol is a legal substance and is widely accepted and even actively encouraged in society.

The Government’s recommended guideline amounts for safe consumption is fourteen units per week for both men and women. However, many individuals drink far more than this every week, with some even drinking more than this in one session. This puts their own health and life at risk, but in many cases, it can endanger the lives of others due to the reckless behaviour of the individual while under the influence of alcohol. This is exactly what happened when Matthew Healy downed eighteen bottles of cider and later took to the wheel of his ex-girlfriend’s car.

Risky Behaviour

Healy had a row with his ex-girlfriend over access to their son, and after downing excessive amounts of alcohol, he took her car and planned to drive into a tree to kill himself because he was ‘so low’. However, due to his intoxication, he was unable to drive properly and could not manage to get the car out of first gear. He smashed the vehicle into a fence.

Despite this being his second offence for drink driving, Healy was given a suspended prison sentence by magistrates. He admitted that after the crash he realised he needed to stop drinking. When police arrived, he said, “I’ve robbed the f***ing car and crashed it; I could have killed someone.”

Consequences of Alcohol Abuse

When breathalysed, Healy was found to be more than twice the legal limit for drink-driving. His solicitor Gordon Peters said that Healy had lost everything because of his alcohol addiction. He said of the incident, “He was very low and took the car keys fully intending to crash the car into a tree and end his life.”

Since the crash, Healy has reached out for help for his alcohol problems and is trying to turn his life around. As well as a suspended jail sentence, magistrates gave him a fourteen-month driving ban and ordered him to pay costs of £250.

Beating Addiction

The case of Matthew Healy highlights the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption. As well as putting his own life at risk, he also endangered the lives of everyone around him that day. Luckily, no one else was hurt.

It is important to reach out for help for alcohol abuse problems as soon as possible as this is an issue that can quickly spiral out of control. Alcoholism is a progressive illness and ignoring it will not make it go away. If you are worried about yourself or a loved one, we urge you to get in touch with us immediately.

Here at Recovery Lighthouse, we treat people suffering from all types of addiction, including alcoholism. Our clinic offers first class accommodation and superb treatment programmes designed around the needs of the individual. If you are ready to take the next step on the journey towards recovery, please do not hesitate to get in touch with us today.

Our staff are fully trained and dedicated to helping patients get their lives back on track. You have nothing to lose by getting in touch.