NFL Athlete Takes Responsibility for Painkiller Addiction

NFL Athlete Takes Responsibility for Painkiller Addiction

Ray Lucas, a retired quarterback from the NFL, is speaking out about his past addiction to pain killers. NBC Sports online published an article noting that the NFL is being sued by almost 2,000 players for health injuries sustained while playing. Different from his peers, Lucas has come forward admitting that he too had started his pain medication addiction from football injuries; however, he reports that the league is not to blame.

Lucas discloses to Toni Monkovic, of The New York Times, that he attempted to stop his pain killers after back surgery and that’s when he experienced withdrawal for the first time. He continues to discuss how his addiction grew out of building tolerance and increasing his pill consumption. Lucas states, “My addiction grew out of tolerance and although it began out of a football injury, taking those pills was my choice.”

It is admirable that Lucas is speaking out and taking responsibility for his addiction rather than blaming the NFL. He entered inpatient drug rehab last year, 2011, for 42 days in Florida and speaks about his experience to encourage those who will listen. Most have no idea how his addiction and habits led him to neglecting his family and draining their finances which ultimately led him into a suicidal depression.

Today Lucas continues to speak out about the disease of addiction, benefits of addiction treatment, recovery and the importance of family. We should have more success stories and role models like Lucas.