Former midfielder and football manager Paul Merson has candidly opened up about the extent of gambling addiction.
The Sky Sports Pundit, who struggled to impress Strictly Come Dancing judges last week with his American Smooth routine to Vindaloo by Fat Les, used to earn around £20,000 a week in the late 1990s when he worked for Middlesbrough. At just 21, Paul was also moved for transfer fees that exceeded £12 million.
His high income helped disguise his maladaptive habits for gambling, alcohol and drugs from those closest to him, including his high-school sweetheart Lorraine Costin. The couple ended up separating, and it was revealed Paul had lost a staggering £7 million feeding his addictions.
“Looking back now, it’s not the money lost that you regret,” he has said in the past. “I’ve been a millionaire and wanted to kill myself. It’s the time you’ve lost. I’ve got eight kids that I love very dearly.”
In a later interview with the Express, Paul explained that gambling has always been the ‘most destructive’ addiction he’s ever experienced and that recovery is no easy feat. “Losing the deposit to the house I was going to buy during the lockdown was heart breaking for me but also for my wife and children,” he added.
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“That’s the thing with addiction, it affects not just the addict but that person’s whole eco-system. I truly believe that rather than being a set point in time, addiction recovery is a lifelong journey. I also know how hard it can be to seek help and that’s why it’s important to have as many easily accessible services as possible available for people to choose from.”
Paul’s foray onto the dance floor is a clear sign there is always light at the end of the tunnel, and he hopes his Strictly stint can inspire those with similar problems. “Being an addict and a recovering alcoholic myself….to show people watching this show who have got addictions, that you can go out and do something like this…is so important,” he said.
“Addiction takes you away from everything. That’s all it ever does. It wants you on your own. Now I’m going in front of millions of people doing something I’m not very good at. I used to think, ‘I can’t do things like that’ but now I’ve got the opportunity to try.”
If you’re struggling with addiction – help is available. You can find the nearest support services to you here.
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