A metro Atlanta man is helping his fellow food and beverage workers struggling with addiction and alcoholism by holding weekly meetings that foster support.

“I’ve been cooking for 11 years. I started when I was a teenager. I’ve been with the company ever since,” said Jonah Jacobson, a sous chef at Pricci in Buckhead.

Jacobson said he began to experience repercussions while in active addiction five years ago.

“Things got bad enough to the point where I was fired from my first job,” he said.

Jacobson said once he started using alcohol and drugs, he could not stop.

“Where everybody else would call it a night after 1, 2 and go home like a normal person, I realized I did not have that luxury. I was not like everybody else,” said Jacobson.’

He helps lead the local chapter of Ben’s Friends, a national organization that organizes meetings for people struggling with addiction and alcoholism.

“We would always talk about another restaurant person who was either destroying their lives or, unfortunately, had just taken their lives due to alcohol and drugs. At one point, we just said enough is enough,” said Ben’s Friends co-founder Mickey Bakst.

Bakst has been sober for 43 years. He said the food and beverage industry fosters an environment in which alcohol and drugs are common and makes it easy for workers to fall into active addiction.

Adam Mauk with Edge Treatment Center in Roswell said programs like Ben’s Friends are often more successful after a person completes an initial inpatient or outpatient treatment plan. But he said people often reason they cannot afford to take the time off from work to complete initial treatment.

“It’s been proven time and time again that if you put anything ahead of your sobriety or ahead of trying to get clean or sober, then you’re going to lose that too,” said Mauk.

Jacobson has now been sober for five years.

“It (recovery) gave me a new outlook on life and gave me a sense of belonging that I was looking for, partially in a kitchen, partially outside of my life,” said Jacobson.

Ben’s Friends has more than 40 chapters across the country, offering free peer support to people working in the food and beverage industry.

Jacobson encourages anyone to attend a meeting on Mondays at 11 a.m. at Pricci, located on Pharr Road.

Scattered showers and thunderstorms are expected to move into metro Atlanta after 2 p.m., bringing a brief break from the extreme heat. High temperatures will reach around 92 degrees Monday, but increased rain chances should keep heat index values below last week’s dangerous levels. Forecasters say hotter weather and temperatures in the mid-90s are expected to return later this week as rain chances decrease.

ATLANTA – Atlanta radio host Big Tigger is stepping away from the microphone to focus on his family following his arrest on domestic violence charges, according to his Instagram. 

Public statement defense

What we know:

Darian Morgan, known professionally as Big Tigger, released a statement confirming his decision to step away from his show to give his legal team room to work.

The full statement is below:

“For as long as I’ve been in this industry, my focus has always been to keep the spotlight on the culture and the incredible people I get to interview. But right now, my personal life is in the public eye and has become the subject of overwhelming speculation and misinformation. Through all of this, what hurts the most is being away from my son. Nothing is more important to me than being a great father. So I’ve decided to step away from the mic for a while to focus on my family and give my legal team the room they need. As I previously said, I unequivocally deny every allegation, and I am looking forward to clearing my name. Thank you so much all for the love and support.”

Sandy Springs arrest

The backstory:

It comes after Sandy Springs police arrested Morgan on charges of aggravated battery, battery and third-degree cruelty to children. 

According to an arrest affidavit, Morgan’s wife, Alicia Brown, told investigators that he shoved her into an office door during an argument at their home in May. 

The impact caused a deep cut above her left eye that required medical stitches. 

Police stated that the couple’s 13-year-old son was upstairs during the physical altercation and heard the incident. 

Brown was later granted a temporary protective order that legally requires Morgan to stay away from her, their home and their children.

What we don’t know:

It remains unclear how long Morgan will remain away from his broadcasting duties or if his employer plans to take further disciplinary action.

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