Former England midfielder Danny Murphy says he grew to become hooked on cocaine after his enjoying profession ended.
Murphy performed for Crewe Alexandra, Liverpool, Charlton Athletic, Tottenham, Fulham and Blackburn Rovers earlier than retiring in 2013.
He has since moved into punditry and works for BBC Sport in addition to different retailers, together with Talksport.
“When you do not have soccer, issues grow to be big,” 47-year-old Murphy told the Ben Heath Podcast.
“Whenever you play soccer, the adrenaline and dopamine, all these items maintain you forward-thinking and energetic.
“I had a spell on cocaine and smoking some weed. The drink, I may reside with out it. I wasn’t an alcoholic. I may sit in a home with alcohol and never drink it.”
Requested if he was hooked on cocaine, Murphy stated: “For some time I used to be. I obtained to the purpose the place I assumed I could not do issues with out it. Which was nonsense, after all I may.
“You handle it initially, you may do it as soon as per week, twice per week, give your self an additional third day. Ultimately it builds up and grabs maintain of you.”
However he stated he discovered assist and remedy helped him deal with his points.
Having began his profession with Crewe Alexandra, Murphy joined Liverpool in 1997.
He spent seven years at Anfield and was a part of the squad that received the FA Cup, League Cup and Uefa Cup in 2001.
Murphy earned his 9 England caps whereas he was with Liverpool.
A spell with Charlton Athletic adopted, earlier than he left The Valley to hitch Tottenham Hotspur in January 2006.
He moved throughout London to Fulham and helped them to the Europa League ultimate in 2010 and ended his profession after a spell at Blackburn.
Murphy stated he “had a 12 months of being in a world of ache” after ending his profession however “that 12 months to 18 months from 2017” had given him “a need to be higher that I did not have earlier than”.
He added that he believed it was frequent for former gamers to have related points to him and that he was “amazed” what number of had reached out to him.
Dr Michael Bennett, director of participant wellbeing on the Skilled Footballers’ Affiliation (PFA), stated the union “often helps” members who’ve developed addictions when Everton midfielder Dele Alli spoke of his sleeping pill addiction.
Former Liverpool and Coventry Metropolis goalkeeper Chris Kirkland has additionally talked about being addicted to painkillers for the perfect a part of a decade.
“I’ve had some actual depths of despair,” stated Murphy. “There’s much more assist on the market now.
“I believe there’s extra, however you possibly can by no means get a failsafe system.”
In case you are affected by any of the problems raised on this article you possibly can go to the BBC Motion Line, the BBC’s info and assist service, here.
