Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre has spoken openly about his substance abuse problems.
Favre’s toughness and reputation as the NFL’s Iron Man is well-documented, with a passer who retired to an NFL record of 297 starts. Favre struggled with injuries during his career, but for a short period that was aided by a painkiller.
Speaking on the latest episode of the “Bowing with Favre” podcast, Favre opened up about his vododine abuse during his career and how he took 16 pills at a time at the height of intoxication.
“This pain is numb, but it also feels great” Favre said on the podcast. “I found that if the pain subsides – if you know what I mean – I can get more pills. And it takes a nap on me. It was two pills that made me feel nauseous, and then it There were four. At its peak, I was taking 16 Vicodin ES at one time. “
Favre said he first began his pain relief regimen when he suffered a split shoulder in 1994, eventually taking two pills a day and sometimes asking teammates to skirt the system Asked to take pills.
At the height of his addiction, Favre said he was good at “manipulating” the system and made seizures that eventually forced him into a 75-day rehab in Kansas. Favre said that his rehab term was largely ineffective as he fell back in the same cycle as before.
It was after the Packers’ Super Bowl victory in 1996, that Favre said he had a “near Jesus” moment, noting that he felt that there were two ways to overcome his addiction: falling out or death.
I was home in Mississippi, and I was as little as possible. … I said it’s one of two things: I die or I pour these pills into the toilet. I sat near the toilet for two hours.
Eventually, I threw the bullets in the toilet, threw them and I almost wanted to kill myself for doing so. I could not believe that I had actually done this, and I was so mad at myself because what was I going to do now? …
This was not really the way to come out of pain pills, because it could kill you. I trembled every night with cold sweat, hot sweat. But that was the last time. I was clear. It took me a few months to get the urge, but slowly but surely, by the grace of God, I got ahead of it.
Favre gave painkillers, but turned to alcohol, eventually getting into rehab for alcohol abuse. Favre said that he has not drunk any alcohol since 1998.
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