Former England and Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy has revealed he became hooked on cocaine after retiring from football in 2013.
As well as Liverpool, Murphy also played for Crewe, Charlton, Tottenham, Fulham and Blackburn during his two-decade profession.
After retiring from football, he worked as an authority for various news services, including the BBC.
“When you don’t have football, the problems become huge,” Murphy told the Ben Health Podcast.
“When you play football, adrenaline and dopamine make you forward-thinking and energized.
“I was addicted to cocaine and smoked weed. Drink, I could live without it. I wasn’t an alcoholic. I could sit at home with alcohol and not drink it.”
Asked if he was hooked on cocaine, the 47-year-old replied: “I was for a while. I got to the point where I thought nothing could be done without her. Which was of course nonsense that I could.
“At first you can handle it, you can do it once a week, twice a week, give yourself an extra third day. Eventually it builds up and grabs you.”
Murphy said he found therapy and support to treat his addiction.
The midfielder remodeled 400 appearances within the Premier League and, after joining Liverpool from Crewe in 1997, was a part of the team that won a treble of UEFA Cup, FA Cup and League Cup in 2001.
“I experienced real despair,” Murphy said. “There is a lot more help available now, but you can never have a fail-safe system.”
Credit : www.independent.co.uk
