I'd go with the rusty northroads. I suppose you're talking about Detroit, where it will probably be stolen anyhow.
I think hobbies are one of the best ways to beat alcoholism. When you drink as much as this fella probably does, and you stop even for one day, there's a lot of downtime, and that's dangerous. Cycling, martial arts, going to the gym or midnight basketball could easily be the key out of this guy's coffin. Or going to school for an associate's degree or a GED, or PhD or whatever. On this I speak from a wealth of experience.