He's Sober

APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH. Three years ago on April 18, I interviewed Richard Johnson about his struggles with alcohol addiction. He openly shared how as a "happy" man, who was happily married, was comfortable with money, his job, family, and cars he overindulged in alcohol. Alcoholism is not always about trauma and sadness. Sometimes we become addicted or abuse it because we just love how it tastes. Now, he is battling lung cancer that started in his colon and then metastasized to his colon and then to his lung. He had undergone multiple surgeries. The consequences of heavy alcohol use are serious and include an increased risk of cancer, dementia, falls and dangerous interactions with medications. New research suggests the risks of even moderate or light drinking may outweigh the benefits. In June, the World Health Organization said that no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health. And a new study funded by the National Institutes of Health found that binge drinking among adults ages 35 to 50 has reached historic levels.  ARE YOU READY TO TAKE THE COUCH?