QUOTED: Mayor Rob Ford is now considering treatment, says his lawyer

QUOTED: Mayor Rob Ford is now considering treatment, says his lawyer

(Image: Christopher Drost)

These are different aspects that a person who’s wanting to get into some form of recovery takes into account—the impact on his family, the impact on friends, the impact on his life…I think yesterday was a very defining day and I’m not sure if the Star meant to have this be a defining day for the mayor in a positive way, but it I think has been.

Dennis Morris, Rob Ford’s lawyer and close advisor, after revealing that the mayor “is seriously considering undergoing treatment for substance abuse” in an interview with the Globe and Mail this morning. Ford has long denied having a substance abuse problem related to alcohol or drugs and has refused seek professional help, despite many, many, many, many, many, many, many, many calls for him to do just that. His change of heart apparently came yesterday after a video was published by the Toronto Star showing mayor delivering a blistering series of violent comments.

Morris did not say what kind of treatment the mayor was considering. “There are different ways that a person could go into recovery for substance abuse and I guess the person has to choose what’s best for them,” Morris said. “Sometimes people have to reach, I guess they call it their nadir, their low or whatever and I know yesterday was a very, very painful day for the mayor.” But will the mayor stay on as the city’s chief magistrate? “I can’t comment on what’s in his mind, but I know he’s going to not voluntarily give up his position.”