Ex-Liverpool ace "should have died" after taking pill to be banned in football

14 November 2023 , 11:10

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Chris Kirkland has opened up on his drug addiction and battle with depression (Image: Getty Images)

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland says he 'should have died' after 'taking the equivalent of six shots of heroin a day' during a grippling drug addiction.

Kirkland, who retired from football in 2016 after an 18-year professional career, has been open about his battle with depression and mental health issues throughout his life. The one-capped ex-England international previously revealed Tramadol - which is now set to be put on the banned list by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) - left him 'thinking he was going to die' after suffering sleepless nights.

The 42-year-old received help from his close family - including wife Leeona and daughter Lucy - after opening up on an illness that nearly took his life. Kirkland has now spoken about the extent of the drug and how he knew was in "trouble" after three months of taking it.

"I found out when I went into rehab that I was taking the equivalent of six shots of heroin a day," he told the Athletic. "It is an evil, evil drug. It nearly killed me, and should have killed me.

"At the start, it gives you a good feeling. It makes you feel happy, if you have anxiety or anything like that. I was using it for pain, yes, but I was using it for anxiety more than anything.

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"But it messes you up mentally. I knew after three months that I was in trouble, that I'd become reliant on it. In the end, you build up such a tolerance to it, it doesn't really do anything. It's just that your body needs it, because you're addicted."

WADA will confirm Tramadol on its prohibited list in January, and from this point, anyone caught with it in their system will face a lengthy ban from football. "Somebody is going to get caught," Kirkland added.

Former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland suffered with a Tramadol addiction (Getty Images)

"I'm glad this ban is happening because it's a dangerous, dangerous drug. But you're not going to eradicate it and somebody will fail a test, it's inevitable. It's going to be extremely tough for a lot of players because there will be many who rely on it."

Last August, Kirkland claimed he was taking 2,500 milligrams of Tramadol a day after having back spasms during his time at Sheffield Wednesday in 2013. He said: "I was on painkillers for eight-and-a-half of those ten years, ended up in rehab. This is the real reason.

"I went cold turkey and got off them five months ago," Kirkland added. "Leeona was incredible she was checking on me on every night. Any story you hear about cold turkey it's true, it was a horrendous week but she was an absolute diamond. This is the third time I've got off them and hopefully I'll stay off them.

"I've got things set up now which I should have set up second time. Telling friends, telling people, I feel like a fraud at times as I didn't tell the truth. Obviously it's affected my mental health massively and need it out there. I'm sure it will resonate with some people unfortunately. If there's anything I can do to help, you can do it, but you can't do it on your own you need to ask for help."

Kieran King