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 started to watch Intervention today and, damn, anthony’s episode made me cry so bad. Now i’m in here in tears searching and revolving the web in hope to find out that he is doing fine now, that he achieved all the success in life he deserves so fucking much.
Damn, even dealing with all that hopeless misery, Anthony still showed himself such a sweet, smart, big hearted and creative kid. His words soaked with love and sorrow when talked about his brother shattered my heart.
His so fucking talented and kinda rebellious way to express himself drawing, that subtle poetry spontaneously put in his words… the bittersweet way he expressed himself like he had behind his eyes an angry animal, so upset and furious about the unfair game life left him to play. All of that touched and impressed me.
Even with the scarcity of tools to develop himself, he showed an intelligence and ability with the words so above average.
I read above Lex’s comment about open a GoFundMe for him, I super would contribute and im also sure others would too
Anthony, wherever you are, keep in mind that your soul is pure fine art. Dont let it perish.
If anyone get any news about him, please comment. I activated the notifications.
yes i liked Anthony but I feel he was too enamored by the attention he was getting thru his illness. Felt there was probably a little immaturity there, which isnt surprising, considering he is a kid. Definitely smart and even good looking if he lets himself be, got a lot going for him. Obv not a lot of self worth, which again isnt surprising after having that bastard says those things to him as a forming soul. Think he could beat it. Do got to say though Ive never seen anyone drink like that. He has to feel like utter crap 80% of the time.
Where is he today? Hope he’s ok.
I just watched it again and searched to see how he’s doing. Searched the Internet, hence why I’m here and leaving this message. I sure hope he overcame his addiction and is alive and well out there. Just broke my heart. I know after 16 years of going through my eldest daughters addiction. Thankfully she’s currently over 2 years sober. Never give up.
I just watched his episode, and I really want to know how he‘s doing 🙁
I wish I knew what happened to him. Just watched the show again.
Does anyone know how he’s doing? Hope he managed to get well. I have never met anyone so addicted they would drunk hand sanitizer. I hope he overcame his addiction and if he did he would be a really good at helping others.
Drinking hand sanitizer is insanely more common than you think. I spent 4 weeks in a detox center to taper off valium and I noticed all the hand sanitizer units were quite small. I asked a nurse about it and she said too many alcoholics who were coming in would drink the stuff, so they top up these tiny dispensers a dozen times a day.
Apparently it’s so common that some manufacturers are creating methanol hand sanitizers that addiction/mental health places are snapping up, as drinking it makes you go f#cking blind. And some still run the gauntlet and drink it knowing it can send them blind or kill them. It’s insane the lengths full blown alcoholics will go to for a ‘drink’.
I’m currently studying to be a counselor and undertaking my placement at a drug and alcohol charity, I very much felt, Anthony would be a dream client, so insightful and so creative. Where ever you are Anthony I very much hope one day you realise the sublime potential you behold. Sarah from Great Britain
He is such a sweet sweet soul. I am genuinely heartbroken. I really really hope he has seen the light somehow. I wish there were updates on him. I felt his pain.
It looks like Anthony’s mother, Linda passed away earlier this week. Here is her obituary.
https://www.santeiufuneralhome.com/obituary/linda-estes-nee-fracassa
Anthony doesn’t seem to be anywhere on social media. I can only hope he’s well and happy. I went through a similar childhood, and think about him often.
Thank you so much for posting this. I grew up downriver (I’m 36 now) and when I saw this episode I had to find out more. I actually worked at the hospital down the road from where her service was held for a long time.
Oh my.. god. Linda actually worked at the SAME hospital! I read her obituary guestbook comments. She passed right before I started working there. Wow. Wow. Wow.
I really wish there were updates on Anthony
I just watched this episode of Invention. I believe i live very close to where Anthony was at the time this episode was made. He/They are referencing places very close to me. Maybe that is why this story is resonating with me. I wish there was some way to help. I wish we knew how he was doing. He was in a very bad way when this aired in 2009. I can’t believe he is still alive.
I would be open to starting a GoFundMe for Anthony to get him back on his feet and I’m sure others would too. He seems so genuinely sweet and I don’t even know him but I do know he can overcome this. I overcame addiction and homelessness, it’s been 6 years clean and the best years of my life. I wish the same for him.
It’s really too bad that there’s no updates anywhere about him.
Please does anyone know how to contact him?
The show has said that over 30 people from this show has now died, with how bad his liver was I can only assume he is one of them 🙁 RIP
41 have died that we know of, Anthony is not one of them. Here is the list: https://intervention-directory.com/post-intervention-deaths/
Yah I’m very surprised he’s still alive considering how near death he was by the end and he relapsed.
sloppiest drunk episode. Awful.
I mean this in reference to watching him and his mom dealing with each other drunk.
Any updates on this guy? He broke my heart. Such an amazing group of friends, great uncle, and adorable grandma. With all of that support I think he may have had a fighting chance.
How is he doing
If Anthony or anyone who knows him who is reading this, this is one of the more relatable episodes for me. I went nearly 100k in medical debt when putting my brother through stage 4 Hodgkin lymphoma and I became an alcoholic at that point in my life too. He didn’t die though, that was my only saving grace. But I almost died from drinking, even with a good outcome. I know it’s not the same, but I understand your pain Anthony and hope you’ve finally experienced some sort of happiness and peace.
Any updates on Anthony
Anthony’s mother Linda died 2 years ago from a heroin overdose
I wish depressed people didnt drink alcohol. It makes some other drug addictions seem like a picnic by comparison. I have lost more friends that only made it to 30 from alcohol, which like drug abuse, is an epidemic in Alaska, where I am from. I think it’s due to the cold and darkness of the winters in the north, and the isolation it causes.
I felt Really bad for him he was in hell. He was young when the episode aired and he just seemed to be lost and overwelmed emotionally but I had a feeling that maybe as he grew up a bit he would find himself he seemed to be a really smart guy. I really hope so but I can’t find any updates on him anywhere.
Anthony! He deserved so much better in life. I hate the way alcohol takes everything away from smart capable people. He experienced the saddest loss I can think of, losing a sibling. If you’re reading this, my mom has been an alcoholic for 20 years, she lost her twin sister. If you ever read this, please continue to be strong Anthony,I’m a complete stranger but your story resonated with me and I don’t even know you but I care very deeply for your well being.
I truly hope Anthony found himself!! He is a great kid, smart, big heart. He deserves better than what he got, I hope he realized/realizes this and chased his dreams.
This episode is so, so, so hard for me to watch. Anthony looks so much like my ex husband, acts like him, and is into the same punk scene as him. They even cry that soul crushing the exact same way. My ex still struggles with drugs and alcohol and it hurts my heart that I can’t help him and had to leave him because of it.
I really hope Anthony is okay and doing better. Such a wonderful soul.
I can’t forget Anthony. It is a miracle he is alive. I hope he is in remission from self numbing and destruction….his soul needs to shine for us in this life.
You’re romanticizing him
So very, very sad what Anthony had been through and to see where he ended up. I was amazed and touched by his group of friends. Hope he is well today. Even at his lowest you could still see what an intelligent and compassionate guy he is.
How is he doing now? I wish a benefactor would pay for him to go to art college.
Did you ever reach him? I’ve been trying too, I’d love to talk to you too 714-864-8306.
Anthony, please hit me up, I wanna talk to you
He was indeed from Michigan… I think about this guy a lot, we were from the same punk scene and I always wonder how he’s doing. Any updates would be greatly appreciated!
just seen him ….hes back in rehab
How can i reach him id like to help
august 2014 is 4 years aqo now. And I think about 6 years after his intervention. I would hope he can go back to rehab and get it to stick…..
Anthony is not from Wayne county Indiana, He’s from Michigan. I wonder how he’s doing nowadays…