Let this be a lesson to you crazy young punk rockers: Drinking heavily for years at a time will take a toll on your body.

Sum 41 frontman Deryck Whibley has released an open letter to friends and fans updating them on his condition after several weeks out of the public eye. According to Whibley’s own account, he was admitted to the hospital a month ago due to kidney and liver failure related to years of heavy alcohol abuse. You can read his letter, which includes a confession that Whibley now knows he can never drink again, below:

“hey everyone, it’s deryck here. sorry i’ve been so m.i.a. lately, but i’ve been very sick in the hospital for a month and was pretty sick for a few weeks leading up to my trip to the hospital. the reason i got so sick is from all the hard boozing i’ve been doing over the years. it finally caught up to me. i was drinking hard every day. until one night. i was sitting at home, poured myself another drink around mid night and was about to watch a movie when all of a sudden i didn’t feel so good.

i then collapsed to the ground unconscious. my fiancé got me rushed to the hospital where they put me into the intensive care unit. i was stuck with needles and i.v.’s all over. i was completely sedated the FIRST WEEK. when i finally woke up the next day i had no idea where i was. my mum and step dad were standing over me. i was so freaked out. my liver and kidney’s collapsed on me. needless to say it scared me straight. i finally realized i can’t drink anymore. if i have one drink the doc’s say i will die. i’m not preaching or anything but just always drink responsibly. i didn’t, and look where that got me. (i never thought i would ever say that! haha) anyway i have my passion and inspiration back for writing music. i already have a few song ideas for new songs. soon it will be time to start making an album and getting back to touring again. see you all sometime! there will be more posts again so say up to date friends.

DERYCK WHIBLEY”

Alcoholism is no joke. Whibley is an immensely talented performer and we’re sorry to learn that he has fallen on such hard times. Hopefully he can recover and, in time, find his way back to the stage. Right now he needs to focus on himself, and we hope he knows we support him 100%.

Feel better, Deryck. We all make mistakes.

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James Shotwell

James Shotwell is the founder of Under The Gun Review. He loves writing about music and movies almost as much as he loves his two fat cats. He's also the co-founder of Antique Records and the Marketing Coordinator for Haulix. You should probably follow him on Twitter.

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