A Premier League star hooked on ‘hippy crack’ laughing gas is among 530 footballers being treated for drug, alcohol and gambling addictions or for other mental health issues.
Last season, 80 professionals sought therapy for drugs, including cocaine and sleeping pills, as one reportedly became the first player to go to rehab for an addiction to laughing gas.
An addiction epidemic has seen some players frequently using black market zopiclone sleeping tablets during their recovery from training.
Earlier this week Brentford captain Christian Norgaard revealed he ‘definitely’ abused sleeping pills and feared he would become addicted to them.
He said he turned to the tablets after experiencing anxiety over whether a lack of sleep would affect his on-field performances.
Norgaard said he would ‘struggle with [being able to] fall asleep’ before big games.
He added: ‘It’s a topic that has maybe been going a bit under the radar. I think now it’s getting emphasised, not only in football but in general, how important it is.’
A sleeping tablets dealer, who has provided to Premier League stars, told the Sun: ‘The main reason some players rely on them is because of their sleeping patterns.
Earlier this week Brentford captain Christian Norgaard revealed he ‘definitely’ abused sleeping pills and feared he would become addicted to them
Dele Alli previously said he spent six weeks in rehab for a sleeping pill addiction as well as other mental health issues
Some players frequently use black market zopiclone sleeping tablets during their recovery from training
‘I know a few players who have tried to wean themselves off them but it’s hard.
‘They go cold turkey and spend days suffering from acute tiredness — but also being unable to sleep.’
Dele Alli, who featured in his first professional match for two years at new club Como yesterday, previously said he spent six weeks in rehab for a sleeping pill addiction as well as other mental health issues.
‘I was taking a lot,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to get into numbers but it was definitely way too much and I had some scary moments.’
Former Oxford United psychotherapist Gary Bloom said addiction to the pills is much ‘much wider than people realise’.
Players suffering with addictions are treated at the Sporting Chance clinic, which works with the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA).
Latest PFA figures for 2023-24 show that 42 footballers received support for gambling addictions.
However, these figures could be higher as others receive private treatment.
The main reason some players rely on sleeping tablets is because of their irregular sleeping patterns, a dealer said
Last year a Premier League player eportedly became the first professional to go to rehab for an addiction to laughing gas
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson previously opened up on struggling with alcoholism and gambling addiction
And on Friday, it was revealed that two footballers in England’s top four tiers tested positive for banned substances last season.
Meanwhile, there is growing concern over the widespread use of nicotine patches, known as snus, with one in five footballers saying they use them. Players reportedly use snus socially or to help ‘unwind’ from the adrenaline of an evening game.
Former Arsenal midfielder Paul Merson previously opened up on struggling with alcoholism and gambling addiction.
Now 56, Merson’s career was first put in jeopardy when he admitted to alcohol, cocaine and gambling addictions in 1994 at the age of 26. The FA arranged a three-month rehabilitation programme and he was out of the Arsenal side to attend it until February the following year.
His 2022 book ‘Hooked: Addiction and the Long Road to Recovery’ revealed his first marriage crumbled under his recovery from drug and alcohol addiction.
The pundit was arrested for drink-driving after a crash in 2011 and has since voluntarily attended Alcoholics Anonymous.
In 2023, he said: ‘I’ve been addicted to alcohol and cocaine, but the most destructive and only one I’m still struggling with is gambling.’