‘Hollywood Jack’ and His Damascus Journey to Joy

InFocus Issue 22, January 2022

If 20 years ago you told Jack (known to his friends as ‘Hollywood Jack’) that he would one day be in films and commercials, he would have scoffed. His reaction to you saying that he would also enjoy life without alcohol would have earned you huge disbelief and distrust, because he neither knew or trusted anyone who ‘didn’t drink’.

But after 16 years of sobriety thanks to Damascus Health Services, Jack’s life is filled with colour and joy he never thought was possible. The weekly volunteer at the Damascus Day Patient unit credits the facility with saving his life.

“I know that I was dying. I had six weeks to live, I was so broken. I had a very small window of clarity that allowed Damascus in to save my life, but I really thought I would die in the gutter like a dog.”

Like many patients at Damascus, Jack’s addiction journey was a long one.

“I drank all my life from an early age. I drank competitively, starting before others, drinking faster and finishing last. I worked in power stations and later in marketing where entertaining was my job day and night. No problems surfaced for all those 40 years.

“When I was 55 at the height of my so-called career, my wife Cay (44) was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. She was given five to 10 years, so I retired and embarked on a mission to take her around the world before she died. 

“For the next three years we lived high and travelled first class. Money was no object and vodka and caviar for breakfast was typical. We went on the Trans-Siberian Railway, a Pacific Cruise, we motor-homed around Australia, we went to London, Paris, Rome, the Greek Isles...

“After three years Cay was unable to speak and she was doubly incontinent. I thought I was coping, but in fact my soul was dying inside and I was drinking a couple of bottles of whiskey (or gin, vodka or tequila) a day. I could only go around 90 minutes without a drink and even then, it didn't work properly and I was sick. Sleep or vomit was my life at that time.”

Jack said his real shock, after priding himself as the person who specialised in fixing the impossible in work situations for many years, was that he couldn’t fix himself.  

“I couldn’t stop my wife dying and I couldn’t stop drinking.

“I went to the doctor and he said my liver was badly damaged and I needed to go into rehab. I was sent to Dr Nigel Prior who admitted me to Damascus. I had my last drink that day at 10:23am (by the microwave, watching a Johnny Cash movie), Monday 26th September 2005. 

“Fran (one of the Damascus nurses) signed me in mid-afternoon. I was in a sorry state, blew 0.21, stayed for 20 days and by the grace of God haven't had a drop since.”

Jack’s biggest lesson from his time at Damascus was that there is no one cure or treatment that you can take to fill the hole that addiction creates. Instead, he learnt how to find his inner peace, which he now shares with others through sharing his stories, his insights and his time. 

“Damascus can help to get you sober, but only you can keep you sober. I didn’t think life could get better without alcohol because I didn’t know any other way.

“Once I had gone through my time at Damascus, I started coming back each week to sit in the lunchroom and reflect. After a couple of years, I was given the job of chairing the weekly residents’ meeting and I now help the freshly sober with their journey when I’m there every Monday.

“My perspective benefits others because I’m not a doctor – I’m just a patient and addict like everyone else.

“Giving back to Damascus makes me emotional because it’s a beautiful reminder of what I was like, that life is reparable and trust in yourself is possible.”

Since being sober, Jack has been an extra or featured extra in a dozen or more commercial films and TV shows, a number of training films and some interesting and long-running TV commercials.

“I can’t believe how my life has blossomed since I shook off the shackles of my addiction thanks to Damascus. Everyone deserves to be happy and we really can help people live a life that's valuable.”

So many incredible stories like Jack’s have been shared over the past 30 years of Damascus’ legacy. And so many more futures will be shaped thanks to the unit’s specific programs and treatments for alcohol and prescription drug addiction.