Image courtesy of the Star Tribune
Retirement is a huge life transition for a professional athlete. The majority of retired athletes have been competitors all their lives — it’s what they know. It’s what they do.
featuGiven the uncertainty and emotions that can come with retirement, it isn’t surprising to find that a number of pro athletes battle addiction once they’re done playing. Some struggle with substance abuse in the form of steroids or pain killer addiction while they’re still playing, and it continues long after they’ve retired their number.
Many experts note that painkillers are a gateway to heroin use. In addition to being extremely harmful to the body, the heroin withdrawl timeline is relatively short. Withdrawal symptoms can begin in as little as six hours after use, which makes it highly addictive. Pain killers can work the same way.
Because of the stigma that comes with addiction, many athletes hide their dependency and don’t seek help, which makes it all the more difficult to break the cycle of drug abuse. In the case of retired athletes, it can become a coping mechanism for some physical and psychological issues.
Retired Athletes Feel Like They’ve Lost Their Identity
A significant number of retired athletes feel like their identity is gone once they stop playing a sport. Being a part of a team is a powerful identifier; you have a uniform and you are part of an organization that is very identifiable. For some of the top athletes, the thought they’ve lost their identity is inescapable. During their professional career, people know who they are because they’re an athlete.
Take Michael Phelps, for example. After winning eight gold medals during the 2008 Olympics, he became a household name because of his athletic achievements. Very few people follow the sport of swimming, but “elite swimmer” quickly became Phelps entire identity. So much so, people were amazed when pictures were leaked of a young Phelps smoking marijuana a few months after the Olympics.
If an athlete doesn’t have another purpose and passion to replace playing a sport, it can take a toll on them mentally. They can feel lost and as if they’re no longer useful. These negative stressors can cause retired athletes to turn to drugs as a way to deal with their feelings.
Increased Risk of Depression
A number of factors can contribute to depression after retirement. In addition to feeling as if a significant part of their identity is gone, many also miss the adrenaline of the game.
Some studies have suggested that athletes are at a higher risk of depression than the general public because of their hardcore training regimen. Research has shown that intense exercise can be as addictive as heroin. Some experts have argued this primes athletes for addiction. When the need for extensive training is gone so is the rush that was once felt, further increasing the potential for depression.
Another Olympic swimmer and world record holder, Geoff Huegill, battled depression and drug abuse after retiring in 2004. With less of a support system than they had before, retired athletes can quickly slide into a deep depression that significantly increases the risk of drug addition.
The Pressure to Perform Doesn’t Go Away
Professional athletes face an overwhelming amount of pressure to perform. They have to stay in peak physical condition, sometimes fighting through pain and fatigue, because there’s always a lingering fear they’ll be replaced. Performance also directly correlates with the monetary value of their contracts.
Once an athlete retires that pressure to perform doesn’t go away, nor does the desire to compete. For some, it can get worse as competitors try to prove to themselves they still have what it takes. Consider how many athletes have made returns after retiring. There are dozens of examples, many of which were short-lived.
Injury and Pain Leaves Athletes More Susceptible to Addiction
The use of opioids is perhaps the most troubling trend. The general public, including former athletes, are abusing prescription drugs in record numbers. Some reports have found that retired NFL players are four times more likely to get hooked on opioid pain medications.
This is understandable given the number of injuries that professional athletes sustain. Many are prescribed painkillers to deal with legitimate physical problems. Sometimes the use continues after the pain has subsided, and other times athletes feel the need to continue using them out of fear the pain will return.
This epidemic has been receiving more attention in recent years. Unfortunately, it’s only come after events like the death of NHL player Derek Boogaard, a result of alcohol and oxycodone overdose. More recently, retired NBA star Lamar Odom had a brush with death after a drug overdose, which was partly attributed to pain. Hopefully those are the last examples we see, because the warning signs are out there for everyone to see now.
mexican online pharmacy [url=https://mexicanpharm.com/#]Mexican Pharm[/url] Mexican Pharm
п»їcanadian pharmacy uk delivery: pharmacy canadian superstore – Canadian Tabs
They will make every move to give you the most beautiful sexual time of your life. Escorts never take any chances when it is all about pleasing their clients. They will always add excitement to give clients the perfect dose of entertainment. Take Karachi escort services to experience the most extraordinary moment of sexual love with the best escorts.
Sexual satisfaction is the main reason why people go for a call girl in Islamabad. People want to explore their fantasies and wants. You might satisfy your repressed needs in a discreet yet practical way by hiring a call girl
.
Read the basic conditions for hiring Call Girls from our agency. If you are in search of a teen escort in Lahore enter your preferences in our search box. Scan the profiles and learn the respective codes for every call girl. This will help you select the best person to satisfy your desires.
Mexican Pharm: medicine from mexico – Mexican Pharm
http://indianmedsdelivery.com/# india pharmacy
Mexican Pharm: online pharmacies – Mexican Pharm
https://indianmedsdelivery.xyz/# indian pharmacies safe
Mexican Pharm: mexican pharmacies that ship – mexican pharmacy near me
Mexican Pharm [url=https://mexicanpharm.com/#]Mexican Pharm[/url] mexican rx
Mexican Pharm: mexican medicine store – Mexican Pharm
Online medicine home delivery: reputable indian pharmacies – legal online pharmacies in the us
canadian compounding pharmacy: Canadian Tabs – Canadian Tabs
canadian compounding pharmacy: Canadian Tabs – Canadian Tabs
Canadian Tabs: Canadian Tabs – canada discount pharmacy
canada pharmacy online legit: canadian compounding pharmacy – Canadian Tabs
international pharmacy: secure medical online pharmacy – overseas pharmacy no prescription
https://onlinepharmfirst.com/# online pharmacy
Find the best ragnarok online private server for you. RateMyRagnarok ranks ragnarok private servers with VPN-protected reviews so ratings stay honest. Browse 40,000+ items, monsters, maps, and skills in our complete ragnarok online database. Compare ragnarok servers side by side, read real player reviews, and discover new ragnarok online servers before anyone else. Whether you’re looking for a ragnarok origin private server, a classic ro private server, or the top ragnarok private servers in 2026, RMR has you covered. List your ragnarok server for free and let the community decide. The RO hub built by players, for players. ro private server
Vet Pharm First: canada pet meds – Vet Pharm First
ivermectin for sale [url=https://ivermectinfirst.com/#]stromectol pills[/url] Ivermectin First
us pharmacy no prescription [url=https://onlinepharmfirst.com/#]buy online medicine[/url] online pharmacies
us pharmacy no prescription: best mail order pharmacy – legit online pharmacy
http://vetpharmfirst.com/# pet drugs online
Долгие годы я веду блог об интернет-маркетинге, дизайне и веб-разработке, делясь опытом как для начинающих, так и для профессионалов влог веб-разработчика
online pharmacy no prescription: online pharmacy no prescription – shop medicine online
online pharmacy no prescription: online pharmacies – best mail order pharmacy
Vet Pharm First: Vet Pharm First – Vet Pharm First
https://ivermectinfirst.shop/# Ivermectin First
buy online medicine: foreign online pharmacy – legal online pharmacies in the us
can you buy stromectol over the counter: Ivermectin First – Ivermectin First
Винтовые сваи в Новосибирске от Главфундамент https://berdsk-gid.ru/news/ekonomika/geologicheskie-issledovaniya-pered-stroitelstvom-pochemu-nelzya-nachinat-bez-nih.htm
Vet Pharm First: Vet Pharm First – Vet Pharm First
안전하고 신뢰할 수 있는 바카라사이트 선택법부터 게임 규칙, 필승 전략, 자주 묻는 질문까지. 온라인 바카라 초보자도 전문가처럼 즐길 수 있는 완벽 가이드. 바카라사이트
안전하고 신뢰할 수 있는 바카라사이트 선택법부터 게임 규칙, 필승 전략, 자주 묻는 질문까지. 온라인 바카라 초보자도 전문가처럼 즐길 수 있는 완벽 가이드. 바카라사이트
Finery Markets is an institutional trading platform for digital assets, offering a secure, non-custodial ECN infrastructure for brokers, market makers stablecoin liquidity
https://ivermectinfirst.shop/# ivermectin 3mg
Ivermectin First: ivermectin topical – stromectol tablet 3 mg
Checking the condition of the battery, electronic systems где техосмотр
us pharmacy no prescription: buy online medicine – worldwide pharmacy
Pin Up – the official website of the top online casino Пин Ап
pet meds official website pet med vet pharmacy
Vet Pharm First: pet meds official website – vet pharmacy online
В мужском спа “Роял” я получил мощный релакс: глубокий массаж и уход сняли все напряжение после тренировок и работы Эротический массаж Челябинск
Более 8 лет помогаем жителям Петрозаводска и Карелии продавать, покупать и сдавать квартиры, дома, дачи Продать квартиру в Петрозаводске
안전하고 신뢰할 수 있는 바카라사이트 선택법부터 게임 규칙, 필승 전략, 자주 묻는 질문까지. 온라인 바카라 초보자도 전문가처럼 즐길 수 있는 완벽 가이드. 바카라사이트
http://vetpharmfirst.com/# Vet Pharm First
п»їdog medication online: Vet Pharm First – pet rx