War on shock EPL drugs, serious addiction to sleeping pills for recovery... 530 people treated, just the tip of the iceberg
Mar 16, 2025
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Britain's `The Sun' reported on the 16th (Korea Standard Time) that `530 football players, including Premier League stars, are being treated for drugs, alcohol, gambling addiction and other mental health problems.'
According to data from the English Professional Footballers Association (PFA), 80 professional players were found to have been treated for illegal drugs such as cocaine and nitrous oxide, sleeping pills and alcohol problems last season.
Brentford midfielder Christian Neungor recently said "It's a topic that's not on the radar"I've worried about sleeping pill addiction in the past"I once vented. Some players have become addicted to Zopiklone, which is sold on the black market to help them sleep as part of their recovery after training. These players were treated at the 'Spotting Chance Clinic' in collaboration with the PFA.
"The biggest reason some players rely on sleeping pills is because of their sleeping patterns," said a dealer who has been supplying sleeping pills to Premier League stars. "On days when players train twice a day, they sleep to recover in the afternoon, but it is difficult if their bodies are nervous", he explained.
And it's also the case when there's a big midweek game that starts at 8 p.m. There are times when I only return home at dawn and rely on the power of drugs. I know some players are trying to stop taking drugs, but it is difficult. He suffers from severe fatigue for several days, but in the end, he can't even sleep."
Forty-two of the 530 players were addicted to gambling and helped. However, PFA's 2023-2024 season figures are said to be only the tip of the iceberg. This is because players who have not asked for help are not counted.
In particular, Snus, a nicotine pouch, is at a serious level, explains 'The Sun'. It is said that one in five professional players admitted to using snus.
The British Anti-Doping Agency said on the 14th that two players from the Premier League and Football League tested positive for prohibited drugs last season. The 'war on drugs' has begun again.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
