In April, the British documentary maker Louis Theroux produced and featured in a programme about alcoholism. Drinking to Oblivion, as it was called, was a difficult watch, shedding light of a pitiable and very sad reality of lives lived with alcohol abuse.
The show featured a 32-year-old man named Joe Walker, who was seen struggling with his addictions. Wearing a coat, visibly intoxicated, Joe’s case moved millions as he walked out of the treatment clinic despite Theroux’s attempts to convince him not to – only to return later on and access the medical help he needed.
Walker had already been hospitalised for ataxia, a disorder which affects co-ordination and speech. During the documentary, he told Theroux: “I feel pretty scared, to be honest. My legs, they’re feeling weak. That’s never happened before and it’s quite frightening.”
Having failed to get a job he was applying for and experienced a break up, Walker turned to alcohol, going on a binge that at times looked likely to only lead to more problems.
Now Theroux has tweeted a photograph of himself and Walker sharing a coffee, celebrating Walker’s eighth month of sobriety.
Coffee with @joedwalker from my alcohol programme, 8 months sober. Congrats, dude! #beards #aa pic.twitter.com/6MppZSVonO
— Louis Theroux (@louistheroux) June 14, 2016
Walker now appears to be teetotal and working towards managing his alcoholism.
