Success Stories of Athletes Who Conquered Alcohol Addiction

These are the success stories of athletes who conquered alcohol addiction.
It may seem like athletes would be the last people to succumb to an addiction. Aren’t they the ones with iron willpower, hardcore fitness regimes, and a “my body is a temple” attitude?

Well, yes and no. There are several reasons why some athletes might be susceptible to alcohol addiction. Firstly, being a professional athlete is an incredibly stressful, high-stakes profession. Succeed and you could set yourself and your family up for life, win fame and accolades and enjoy the adulation of millions.

Fail, however, or become injured, and your career could be short-lived, preventing you from pursuing other lucrative professions. It can be a heart-breaking awakening when a career is cut short. The active career of even a successful athlete is very brief. For football players, the average retirement age is 27. For basketball players, it’s 29 and even for marathon runners, who tend to mature later, you can expect performance to tail off after 29.

This leaves these still comparatively young athletes with a whole new life to build and that can be anxiety-provoking, leading in some cases to self-medication with drugs or alcohol.

How many athletes suffer from this problem?

Often the problem begins in college. Studies have shown that collegiate athletes can prove more susceptible than their non-athlete peers, to alcohol abuse. Cultures of “work hard, play hard” and large amounts of downtime during off-seasons can contribute to excessive drinking patterns. For those likely to develop an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, the temptations are omnipresent.

There have been some well-publicized stories of athletes coming to terms with alcohol addiction, and fortunately, many have overcome their problems.

Here are just a few of Success Stories of Athletes Who Conquered Alcohol Addiction

JOSH HAMILTON

MLB player Josh Hamilton’s career went awry for eight years while he struggled with drug and alcohol addiction. The Texas Rangers outfielder began to deal with his addiction in 2008 and won the American League MVP award in 2010.

Unfortunately, he also suffered several relapses and continued to fight to control his alcohol problem. Since having retired from baseball, and having undertaken extensive rehabilitation, he now claims to be drug and alcohol-free.

VIN BAKER

When basketball hero Vin Baker joined the Seattle SuperSonics, the team went on to win 61 games. However, the pressure of fame got to Baker and his celebratory drinking became a ritual to mask mounting anxiety. He was dropped from his team following frequent bouts of excessive alcohol use, and struggled with rehab programs until a fifth visit, and renewed faith, carried him through to sobriety.

Following his basketball career, having run out of money, Baker worked as a barista, and minister and finally returned to the NBA as an assistant coach for the Milwaukee Bucks. He is currently 12 years sober.

OKSANA BAIUL

Female athletes are not immune to these issues either. In 1994, at the tender age of 16, Oksana Baiul became the second-youngest women’s figure skating Olympic champion. However, the pressures of fame proved challenging for the teenage Ukrainian.

Baiul was arrested following a DUI in 1997 and undertook addiction treatment. Fortunately, the rehab worked, and she has remained sober since 1998 and overcome her alcohol addiction, even managing to return to the sport as an Olympic contender in 2002.

DARRYL STRAWBERRY

Throughout his baseball career, MLB legend Darryl Strawberry struggled with cocaine and alcohol addiction. Starting when he was 21, Strawberry managed to maintain a remarkable career, playing for the Mets, Giants, Dodgers, and Yankees over 17 years, and hitting 335 home runs and 1000 RBI.

Behind the scenes, however, Strawberry was self-sabotaging with substance and alcohol abuse, earning drug suspensions, and eventually a criminal record for sexual solicitation and DUI. He was initially sentenced to 18 months in prison, served 11, and has maintained sobriety since his release.

Strawberry has become a spokesperson for drug and alcohol rehabilitation and regularly shares his story at public speaking events.

Seek Help Today

These are just a few of the many success stories of athletes who conquered alcohol addiction. They’re probably the tip of the iceberg since only a minority of sufferers are brave enough to publicly admit their difficulties.
If you’re struggling with similar issues, then don’t hesitate to act. A well-constructed rehab program with support for mental health issues can make all the difference.