Season 5 Episode 9
Anthony
Age: 22
Location: Wayne County, Indiana
Addiction: Alcohol (vodka)
What’s memorable: “It’s a sick love affair and I’m a hopeless romantic.” – Anthony. Oh, Anthony. Such a sad lost soul. His alcoholism is so advanced for his age, he’s been hospitalized 12 times in 3 months for alcohol poisoning. And what a mess he is when he’s drunk. He’s got a very sad and tragic story, never feeling welcome in his own family and losing his brother after taking care of him and even donating his bone marrow. The followup is uplifting, really hope it took.
Official Synopsis: From an early age, Anthony’s father made him feel worthless. His parents divorced, and his mother remarried, but she was still unhappy and turned to alcohol and drugs. It was little wonder, then, that Anthony began drinking at age 13. Another blow came when Anthony’s younger brother died of leukemia. Anthony spiraled downward, and now he drinks half a gallon of vodka a day and takes whatever drugs he can find.
Original Air Date: January 2009
Interventionist: Ken
I’ve never connected with an intervention patient as much as I did him. While my life is not nearly as traumatic as his, I’ve lived with lifelong depression and have said verbatim so many of the things he said on his episode, about feeling somehow like there was a mistake and cosmically I was never supposed to be born, wishing I had died instead of someone else, and seeing life a curse. Then the depression gets better, and it all seems ridiculous, then the depression gets worse again and you’re back at square one. I really hope Anthony is doing ok now; he was such an insightful and compassionate person. His friend Nicole was amazing too.
Almost certain this is him
https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/wayne-county/2023/06/08/jury-finds-highland-park-not-guilty-in-murder-of-girlfriends-brother/70299354007/
I’m pretty sure that wasn’t him. There’s an obituary for a black man, the same age, same name that died on the day of the stabbing. Still very sad.
When Anthony talked about his Brother’s death from Leukemia, I just couldn’t hold back tears because it’s truly is just so heartbreaking to for anyone to have yo deal with that sort of loss.
Maybe add the “most likable addicts” tag? I loved this kid! I just wanted to hug him until he stopped drinking (which I know doesn’t work, but still)
I found his fb
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100066978348557&mibextid=LQQJ4d
currently on TrueReal but i’ve seen this episode before. anthony is truly an awesome human being. i hope he stays strong and stays alive.
God this episode hurt. I could feel his pain and understand why he was abusing alcohol, although I myself never got quite to his level I still struggled. I understand so intimately the “tortured artist” way of life that he was going through (referring to his incredible drawing skills here) and I related to his intense feelings and sensitivity very much. This is why people who don’t want children shouldn’t have children, even if their spouse pressures them into it. Good lord. I hope he is doing better nowadays.
That’s not Anthony, that’s his uncle
Anthony lived in Wayne county, Michigan (not Indiana) Shout out to Livonia! It’s hard to see but many times children who are abused turn to substance abuse to numb the pain.
I would have liked to see Anthony get sober and hope he’s okay.
This is the last picture I could find of Anthony, on his mother’s profile (who has passed away). He looks great in the picture. https://web.facebook.com/photo?fbid=1664127073846770&set=a.1490251957900950
That’s his uncle in that picture.
Best wishes, addiction has different faces. Was touched by Anthonys story too, hope he’s doing good.
Almost gave up trying to find updates on Anthony, my heart sank at the end of his episode when it said he’d relapsed but it’s so good to hear he’s doing well!! His story really stuck with me
Hi all..
I have just had an update from Anthony’s uncle..
Anthony is alive,he his doing really well especially this year.
That’s so good to hear!! I think about this episode often. Thanks for the update. Everyone on this site deeply cares for the addicts featured.
Do you know how to get in contact. Successful punk about his age from Canada who would love to chat.
I’m so happy to know that <3
I found uncle dave, nicole and uncle Robert's facebook, but did not have the guts to get in contact.
By the fact that Anthony himself is almost impossible to get in contact directly, i concluded he just didn't want to be found (by strangers and stuff). So i gave up.
I'm glad someone made contact (thank you!) And I'm happy he is doing fine. He showed himself such a smart guy. Pretty sure he can find his way to a successfully life, If staying sober.
I went to elementary and high school with Anthony. He was a grade older than me, and we were in different social circles. I was friends with his sister in elementary school when their little brother got sick. He was such a cute little kid. I didn’t know the dad hit the mom. Both him and his sister were extremely quiet. He was always really good at art, and I had a few art classes with him. He and his friends were definitely too cool for me, haha. Some people in his clique very openly drank during school hours. The girl is the video was very friendly to everyone.
His story is pretty common for my hometown. I’d need a few more hands to count the suicides and overdoses for my classmates. I hope he’s doing well and still drawing. The pictures of his artwork they showed didn’t display half his talent. He is significantly more talented than that.
He was class of 2004 I was 2005. It was crazy watching this episode when it came out. Showing him at St.Mary’s drinking sanitizer was enough. Poor kid and sister went through a lot. Hope all is well.
Hey all, Andrews story hit me like a ton of bricks. The pain ooozed from, I couldn’t help but cry throughout he’s episode. He was the first person I came here too look for an update. It broke my heart not seeing one, so I went on a mission to see if I could find him or contact someone close to him. I sent a Hail Mary email to someone close to him and after a few nail biting days he got back to me. Granted it was a very short and sweet email, he said 3 amazing words.. “he’s doing great”. I was so relieved to hear that. I wish I knew more but I don’t want to pry into this guys life. After all I’m a complete stranger.
Thanks for providing this info about Anthony.
I’m just a stranger too but his ep haunted me, it was gut wrenching, he seemed like such a kind and sensitive soul who was in an incredible amount of pain. You could see that his family and friends cared for him deeply and he was unable to feel any of that love. Heartbreaking.
I check back here once or twice a year for updates so I’m so happy to hear he is doing well. Addiction is terrifying And anyone who can extricate themselves from its grip is incredible. Hope he lives a long and happy life.
https://www.facebook.com/tony.mccormick.779
I don’t think that’s him.
No it’s not that Guy has a tatoo with the name of his mother Roselyne
https://www.facebook.com/RobertFracassa
Heres his uncles FB. I have watched this a few times since i got hooked on the show in 2016. I really do hope hes doing ok especially after his mam has passed
Is he that one?
https://www.facebook.com/anthony.mccormick.52
Looks like him and his girlfriend looks like Nicole
i wish it was, but im 90% sure that this Anthony is not the same Anthony and 100% sure that girl is not the same Nicole.
Doesn’t look like him at all. I wish the folks on the show had their own website or even came here and let us know how they are doing. They don’t have to share their FB/IG but just an update and photo. It makes me super sad when no one can find them on social media or on the net, usually doesn’t mean anything good.
Anthony was one of my good friends in high school. This is 1000000% not him.
He’s on Facebook, obviously healthy and thriving.
I found his whole family and Nicole’s (best friend who was on the episode) facebook.
But i didnt found Anthony’s profile
But I hope so.
Could you share hes FB?
Humans are very fragile and the lack of love at a verly age can mess us up so badly. It’s so sad that he feels like he’s been cursed and that he ”likes to be hit”.
Anthony is an amazing, wonderful, creative human being that absolutely deserves to be happy.
I do hope he finds it.
why the fuck did they FUCKING LET him drink hand sanitizer?
it was irresponsible and disrespectful by the teamthat was filming.
they should just interfere and stop him. God, he could had poison himself and they were just filming him instead of stop him.
No kidding. It’s like on Laney’s episode where they let her attempt suicide.
Which one is that?
Type in Laney in the search bar of this website
I’m pretty sure both parties (the addict/family and production team) sign off on a contractual agreement that the crew are there to document their daily lives and neither party can interfere with the other.
It might seem rough to let him drink hand sanitizer, but he no doubt has done that plenty of times before and would have done it if the camera crew wasn’t there anyway. If the camera crew step in for this, where do they stop? Shouldn’t they stop the heroin addict who’s about to shoot her 5th consecutive bag and is already near unconsciousness?
The camera crew aren’t there to support or assist the addict. Just document as mutually agreed.
If anything, it’s exploitative…but that makes the viewer guilty of exploiting them too by watching their product.
I absolutely agree with Ashley on this one. Hand sanitizer has been featured in several episodes, and is just as potentially dangerous as anyone using fentanyl on the show. The camera people are there to document, and the producer assigned to the addict is the one who checks on them, stops them from driving intoxicated, calls for medical support if needed, etc.
I agree that was so fucked up! They recording it and letting him do like no one was watching! Really bad!
I don’t think they are allowed to do anything until the person becomes unconscious. Then treatment can be administered.
I agree, to me Anthony was extremely ill and at risk for either accidental overdose or suicide. At some point they really should step in and say that’s enough, we’re going to stop filming and actually do something to help you.
God, i hope he is doing fine. Such a smart guy.