Sum 41 Deryck Whibley Hits His Alcoholic “Rock Bottom,” But Will His Near Death Experience Keep Him Sober?

Grammy-nominated Canadian-born musician and producer, Deryck Whibley, the guitarist, lead singer, and songwriter for the band Sum 41, was recently seen in public for the first time after a month spent in the hospital for alcohol-related health complications.

The 34-year-old, appeared much older than his true age as well as looking incredibly frail, and seemed to need the assistance of his fiancée and another woman, with whom he was pictured walking in Los Angeles on Monday. In fact, the two women had to steady the rock star repeatedly as they walked around town.

The ex-husband of Avril Lavigne has been described as “a shadow of his former self” since appearing in public three days after an emotional post on his website in which Whibley revealed just how close he came to losing his life.

During his hospital stay, doctors warned Whibley that he could die if he had one more drink.

The musician told of how the first week of his month-long hospital stay was spent unconscious and attached to an IV drip.

“I was drinking hard every day. Until one night. I was sitting at home, poured myself another drink around midnight and was about to watch a movie when all of a sudden I didn’t feel so good,” Whibley wrote.

The Rolling Stone reported that, after being rushed to the hospital, Whibley was told his kidneys and liver had collapsed.

The musician admits, “Needless to say it scared me straight. I finally realized I can’t drink anymore. If I have one drink the doc’s [sic] say I will die.”

He added, “I’m not preaching or anything but just always drink responsibly. I didn’t, and look where that got me.”

But Will His Near Death Experience Keep Him Sober?

Whibley certainly seems shaken by his stint in the hospital but, we’re left wondering: will his alcoholic rock bottom be enough of an “eye-opener” for the rocker? Reading Whibley’s post, it sounds like he still might not get that what he’s experiencing is part of full-blown alcohol addiction and not just a health scare due to some heavy drinking.

He has written that he “finally realized [he] can’t drink anymore.” But, sometimes that’s easy to say right after something as scary as almost dying. We wonder if the musician is planning to seek actual treatment for his alcohol addiction and if he’s aware and considering some kind of program of recovery. Sure, he spent a month in the hospital but, that was necessary for treating his life-threatening situation – having lost function of his liver and both of his kidneys.

But substance abuse and addiction often requires specialized treatment in order to truly begin recovering from alcohol and other substances. And, as far as hitting a rock bottom as scary as this one, we all know that there’s a trap door to that level of “bottom” – meaning that there’s always further to fall.

For Whibley, that could mean actual death if he doesn’t heed his doctors’ warnings.

If you or someone you love is struggling with substance abuse or addiction, please call toll-free 1-800-951-6135.