Kurt Angle Opens Up About Addiction to Painkillers

Kurt Angle, the Olympic Hero, recently discussed his battle with addiction to painkillers during an interview on the True Geordie Podcast. Angle revealed that he became obsessed with painkillers after breaking his neck for the second time in WWE.

Angle admitted, “When I broke my neck the second time, I met a doctor who introduced me to painkillers. He said they were the greatest things in the world, and I would love them. I started taking one every four to six hours, but soon my body built a tolerance, and one pill wasn’t enough. I ended up taking 65 extra-strength Vicodin a day, which is almost enough to kill a horse.”

The former world champion went on to explain that his focus shifted from wrestling to obtaining more painkillers. He said, “My focus was not wrestling anymore. My focus was, when am I gonna get the drug next? I became a druggie. I became an addict right away.”

Angle revealed that he went to extreme lengths to feed his addiction. He sought out multiple doctors, including in Mexico, to obtain the amount of painkillers he wanted. He said, “I had 12 different doctors giving me 12 different prescriptions. I had to set up a calendar because I couldn’t go to the same pharmacy. I even resorted to buying 2,000 painkillers illegally from Mexico every month.”

During the height of his addiction, Angle was spending up to $7,000 a month on painkillers. However, he mentioned that money was not an issue for him at the time due to his high earnings as a professional wrestler.

Angle’s candid interview sheds light on the dangers of addiction, especially for athletes who rely on painkillers to cope with injuries. It serves as a reminder that seeking help and treatment is crucial for those struggling with addiction.

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Sources: Wrestling Headlines, Fightful