Losing My Sister to Alcohol at 38: Amber Hughes's Story

Amber Hughes was 22 when professionals told her she could not take her sister home. Hannah was four times over the limit, sleeping rough in Oxford, and 40 units of wine a day deep.

Hannah had a flat. A degree. She wanted to be a teacher and own a chocolate Labrador.

Then alcohol took everything. The flat, repossessed. The relationships, gone. Four or five bottles of wine at a co-op till her younger sister watched her buy at every shift. A Boxing Day text reading, "it's easier if I just die."

Hannah died at 38 from a seizure after years of heavy drinking. Four days before, the three of them sat on a bench in Oxford laughing through an old photo album.

Amber tells Dave what it's like to love someone in active addiction, to be told to hold a boundary that breaks you, and what came after.

She has since been awarded the British Empire Medal for her charity Amber Lights.

If you want to connect with me via Instagram, you can find me on the instahandle @Soberdave https://www.instagram.com/soberdave/ or via my website https://davidwilsoncoaching.com/

Provided below are links for services offering additional help and advice for Amber

https://homelessoxfordshire.uk/

https://amberlightsinoxford.wordpress.com/

https://www.instagram.com/amberlightsinoxford/

https://amberlightsinoxford.wordpress.com/blog/

www.drinkaware.co.uk/advice/alcohol-support-services

https://nacoa.org.uk/

Show producer- Daniella Attanasio-Martinez

Instagram - @TheDaniellaMartinez

https://www.instagram.com/thedaniellamartinez/

www.instagram.com/grownuphustle/

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