CORNWALL, Ontario – At the launch of his new autobiography, Guy Lauzon pulled no punches.
“Hello everyone,” he began, “My name is Guy Lauzon and I suffer from a disease from alcoholism.”
The book entitled Lawbreaker to Lawmaker chronicle’s the life of Guy Lauzon from a chronic alcoholic to the Member of Parliament for Stormont, Dundas and South Glengarry and features a foreward by former Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
He explained how from the ages of 15 to 30, he would drink, not every day, and not every week, but that every time he did drink it was until he was sick.
Lauzon’s family was present at the book launch and at times, when explaining his past to the crowd, he was fighting back tears.
Lauzon said that his wake-up called came when he was facing a second DUI, back in the day when that meant mandatory jail time.
Since, then he has chosen sobriety.
“I haven’t drank for 43 years,” he said. “I know that if I drank so much as one glass of beer today, I would fall right back into the depths of alcoholism.
The book launch was held at the Cornwall Community Hospital’s (CCH) new Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH).
“I truly feel blessed to be able to share my story with all those who may be in a dark place and are seeking a way out”, stated MP Lauzon in a press release to the media after the event. “People need to realize that they are not alone in their struggles, that there are hundreds of people who understand what they are going through and are there to lend a hand and a shoulder”.
All proceeds from the book will be going to support the CAMH.
“Today, it is widely recognized that 1 in 5 of us will experience an addiction or mental health issue in our lifetime,” said Jeanette Despatie, CCH President and Chief Executive Officer. “We also know that historically the attention and investments in the addiction and mental health sector has not kept up with the other health care demands. While this is changing, we are pleased that Cornwall Community Hospital, together with our partners, have made decisions and investments to ensure that the needs of this population are met. We thank Mr. Lauzon for sharing his story with us here today.”
