Shaquille O’Neal Frankly speaking, his use of painkillers.
The former professional basketball player appeared on the “Dax Shepard’s Armchair Expert” podcast on Monday, August 11, and despite his concerns about the doctor, he questioned whether he was addicted to painkillers.
“So, I have a question,” O’Neal, 53, answered after being asked if he was worried about addiction. “Is it ‘addiction’ chemical effect or are you just accepting it? I’m having a heated discussion with the doctor, such as ‘You’re addicted,’ but I don’t feel very high.”
Shepard, 50, pointed out that while O’Neal may not be “high”, he may “just feel no pain.”
“Yes. I don’t know that’s addiction,” O’Neal replied.
The former NBA star explained that he felt he “need to play well” rather than simply “good”, which is one of the reasons he chose to take painkillers regularly.
“I don’t think I’m suffering mentally,” he said. “I think if I had a knack, I would choose it because I don’t want to feel that knack because we need this game.”
O’Neal added: “You hear the story…’Oh, he’s addicted.’I’m not that, but I have to have them – is that kind of addiction too?”
Shaquille O’Neal.
(Photo by Kennedy Pollard/Getty Images by Royal Bank of Canada)The retired athlete had previously spoken about his painkiller use and other health difficulties in an interview GQ Magazine in 2022.
“When you play, do you go to the doctor for a check-up and a physical examination? He told the media.
“So when I went back to see the doctor, there were something I never knew. They gave you some of those words: ‘Hey, you have sleep apnea. Sleep apnea can cause high blood pressure or stroke, and you can die.” I said, “What?” “You can die.” So now I have to sleep on a sleeping machine. ”
He added that painkillers and their negative effects on the body also emerged during the appointment of doctors, which is a concern.
“And then, ‘All the painkillers to take, brother? Your kidneys are a little weak. There are no more painkillers.'” O’Neal said. “I rely on painkillers – not addicted. Some days I can’t move, I just popped up a little or two just to let me go. But I’m leaving now.”
If you or someone you know is working to abuse drugs, please contact the National Hotline Service of the Drug Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
