A Cork man who has been using medication to manage symptoms of alcohol withdrawal has been told by a judge that he is 'replacing one thing with another'. The comment came during the man's appearance in court, where his circumstances and his attempts to cope with the withdrawal were set out. In the judge's view, swapping one substance for another does not put the man on a path to recovery. Alcohol withdrawal can be a serious medical risk, and doctors generally recommend supervised treatment rather than a do-it-yourself approach. The judge's remark touches on a concern that keeps surfacing in similar cases, that dependence shifts shape instead of ending. What the man does next, in terms of seeking proper support, will likely weigh heavily on how his situation develops.