Maybe I'm thinking too much about it, but to me it really does epitomize a very prevalent attitude these days. The problem smacking him upside the head in the form of a health scare is apparently not enough for him. Others have already said this, but he decides to fix things only until it starts calming down and is under control again. He isn't taking the situation seriously or is too lost in his alcoholism to be able to. It seems like it needs to be a constant and seriously scary thing to actually get him to try and get things together, but that could be nearing the end of it all anyway. He's normalized his condition for himself, and frankly I agree with the people who are amazed he's still alive and with all of his his limbs attached.
Again, maybe I'm thinking too much about it but it's certainly as interesting as it is scary to watch.