It might be all consuming to think you or your loved one are alone in drug or alcohol addiction; that it doesn’t happen to “good” or “successful” people, but that just isn’t true. Addiction is an extremely complicated disease, gripping all ages of adults, regardless of job, income, home life, support, and more. The National Football League knows its fair share of players who’ve been held captive by the chains of alcohol or drug addiction, and unfortunately, athletes are not immune to addiction either. To help athletes and non-athletes alike, Lighthouse Recovery opened its Sober Houses and IOP Treatment Facilities in Dallas to offer evidence-based drug and alcohol addiction treatment leading to long-term sobriety.
Here are three stories of NFL players who’ve undergone alcohol or drug rehab:
1. Maxx Crosby
Probably one of the focuses of the NFL season is Maxx Crosby’s incredible comeback after enrolling in alcohol rehab and getting sober prior to his 2021 football season. Incredibly, he has fought his alcohol addiction and has stayed sober for over 18 months now. According to reports, Maxx Crosby opted for an inpatient rehab stay instead of an IOP treatment or other type of outpatient stay. For many individuals, an inpatient stay is crucial to first safely undergo detox, which for alcoholics, can have severe or even life-threatening side effects if not properly medically-managed. After his month-long rehab, Crosby then enrolled into a sober living facility until it was time for training camp. He knew that completing the inpatient stay would not be enough to achieve long term sobriety; it’s highly recommended to seek out an IOP treatment program or sober living facility after detox. It’s through these programs that an addict can continue the work of fighting the underlying causes of addiction, overcoming triggers, and finding solutions to avoid relapse.
2. Darren Waller
Another Raider, Darren Waller, has openly shared his own alcohol and drug addiction which led to a year break from the NFL undergoing the league’s drug treatment facility. Although he was able to take advantage of the NFL’s luxury sober living rehab facility, he wants more access for more addicts to quality sober living and IOP treatment facilities. That’s why he’s launching the Darren Waller Foundation, which will fund drug and alcohol treatment for families who can’t afford it.
3. Brett Favre, retired QB
Well-known, retired quarterback Brett Favre has shared how completing an inpatient drug rehab stay wasn’t enough to get him to quit painkillers for good. After his first league-mandated rehab stint, Favre continued to abuse painkillers. Then, after a Super Bowl winning season, he hit rock bottom and quit drugs cold turkey. (Please note: most medical professionals recommend entering a medically-supervised inpatient center to receive 24/7 support during detox, which can have painful, uncomfortable, and even life-threatening side effects). However, he still struggled with alcohol abuse and later entered an alcohol sober living rehab center and has been sober ever since. What started out as pills to treat football injuries turned into a gripping disease that nearly killed him. It can happen to anyone, which is why at Lighthouse Recovery we recommend seeking an IOP treatment or sober living facility as soon as you can.
Can You Have an Addictive Personality?
“Addictive personality” is used to describe certain characteristics and environmental factors that make a person more likely to develop an addiction issue. Although having an addictive personality is not a diagnosable condition, several studies confirm that around 10-15% of the population has an addictive personality.
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Whether you’re looking for an IOP treatment to successfully continue you or a loved one’s addiction fight after a rehab stint or know you need the support of a sober living facility, Lighthouse Recovery in Dallas offers hyper-individualized, evidence-based, holistic treatment for alcohol, drug addiction, and more.
