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Shaquille O'Neal is being open about his experiences with pain medications.
During the episode of the “Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard” podcast that aired on Monday, August 11, the retired NBA player reflected on whether he might have developed an addiction to painkillers, a topic that has raised concerns with his doctors.
“I have a question,” O’Neal, aged 53, said in response to inquiries about his worries regarding addiction. “Is addiction defined by the chemical impact or simply the act of taking it? I had an intense debate with my doctors, who insisted, ‘You were addicted,’ but I did not feel any euphoria.”
Shepard, who is 50, pointed out that while O’Neal might not have experienced a “high,” he might have merely been experiencing relief from pain.
“Absolutely. I wasn’t aware that was considered addiction,” O’Neal responded.
The former basketball star clarified that he felt an obligation to perform exceptionally well rather than just adequately, which influenced his frequent use of painkillers.
“I don’t believe I was struggling mentally,” he stated. “If I was feeling discomfort, I would take something to avoid that because the game mattered.”
O'Neal mentioned, “You hear tales… ‘Oh, he was addicted.’ That wasn’t the case for me, but I felt I had to take them — does that count as addiction?”
The former athlete has earlier discussed his pain medication use and other health challenges in a 2022 interview with GQ magazine.
“When you are active, you visit the doctor for check-ups and physicals, right? But since I haven’t played in over a decade, what would prompt a doctor visit for me?” he shared with the publication.
“So, when I eventually returned to the doctor, I discovered some issues I was unaware of. They hit you with phrases like, ‘Hey man, you have sleep apnea. That can lead to hypertension or strokes, and you could die.’ I was shocked. ‘You could die.’ So now I need to use a sleep machine.”
He also noted that the adverse impacts of painkillers on his health were a point of concern during the medical examination.
“Then it hit me, ‘All those painkillers you’ve been taking? Your kidneys are somewhat compromised. No more painkillers,’” O'Neal recounted. “I was reliant on pain medications—not addicted. On days when I struggled to move, I would take one or two, just to keep me functional. But I have moved past that now.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, contact the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
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