Athletes are known for their superior athletic ability and the amazing feats they can accomplish with their bodies. Although they may seem almost superhuman at some points, they are not immune to addiction. Drugs and athletes should not go together, but unfortunately that is not always the case.
At Seaside Palm Beach, our luxury South Florida rehab is naming some famous athletes on drugs and how some went from scoring touchdowns and breaking records to drug abuse and rock bottom.
Athletes That Used Drugs
There are many famous athletes on drugs, but with new championships to be won and games to be played, you may not have noticed them struggle with substance abuse or fading to the background.
Derek Boogaard
This once-feared Minnesota Wild NHL enforcer struggled with an addiction to painkillers. While his time on the ice certainly warranted the use of some pain meds, Boodaarg quickly became addicted and began abusing the drugs. Although he did enter rehab, addiction was one opponent he couldn’t beat. Boogaard died of painkiller and alcohol toxicity at the age of 28.
Dwight Gooden
This famous Mets pitcher was well known on the field for his curveballs and fastballs, but off the field, Gooden struggled with addiction. A frequent user of cocaine, Gooden’s problems with the substance quickly carried over into his game. He was suspended for a positive drug test and was placed in rehab because of it. His career was never the same.
Dock Ellis
Another baseball player on our list of famous athletes on drugs, Dock Ellis struggled with alcohol and a variety of drugs like LSD. What began as a bad habit as a teenager turned into a full-blown substance abuse problem that carried onto the field. The famous player even recounts using LSD before a game. Although he struggled during his athletic career, Ellis did go into rehab after retiring from baseball. He went on to work as a substance-abuse counselor for many years before dying from liver disease.
Len Bias
A promising rising star, Len Bias was drafted by the Boston Celtics but died before he was ever able to step on the court for a game. Doctors announced that he died of a cocaine overdose at the ripe age of 22, and it was not the first time that he had abused that drug. Few knew of his struggles, but a holistic rehab program may have been able to save his life and career.
Athletes on drugs are nothing to be admired. But we can praise those athletes in recovery who recognized that they have a problem and chose to get help. If you have a problem with addiction, you are not alone. A luxury South Florida residential rehab like ours could save your life in more ways than one.
If you struggle with a drug addiction yourself or have watched a loved one battle with addiction, it is time to get help. With our comprehensive approach to treatment, we help patients pick themselves back up. Contact us today at 561-677-9374 to get started.
