‘He’s drinking 30 cans a day. It can’t go on like this. Every day is a battle.’
She should be happily enjoying her retirement years.
But Annie is constantly on edge, looking after her middle-aged son who battles alcoholism and nearly died due to his out of control drinking.
She faces the reality every day that he could be just another of Scotland’s latest alcohol death statistics.
Annie – not her real name – lives in a small village in the central belt.
The 72-year-old said: “It is really awful and I would not wish this on anyone. No matter what age he is, he will always be my wee boy. I just wish he could stop drinking. He sits alone in his room and drinks and suffers from anxiety.
“At his worst, he is drinking about 30 cans of cider a day. It can’t go on like that. He used to be really fit but is ruining his health and his mental wellbeing.
“I know the alcohol deaths in Scotland have gone up again and I think my boy could easily be one of those figures. Every day is a battle.”
She added: “Drink is a massive issue especially in the wee place I stay.
“It is everywhere – in shops, pubs, cinemas, you name it.
“It is just seen as totally acceptable. Scotland’s drinking problem is definitely being overlooked.
“The attention is always focused on drugs and what to do about that issue.
“But people are dying and living in misery because of drink all over Scotland. It has got worse during the pandemic.”
She gave us permission to share one of her recent texts with her family support worker which showed how close her son came to death.
She wrote: “The addiction team have been supportive at times but not always available when needed, a phone call a week not enough, he has been detoxed a few times but not much after care.
“I have just given him £500 for debts, his mental health is very bad, saying that his life is ended, I’m totally distraught.
“I just wish that I didn’t feel sorry for him, but he’s really sick.”