Tiger Woods’ Woes with Prescription Drugs

Did Ambien and Vicodin play a role in Tiger Woods’ recent woes? While the golfer’s alleged infidelity is front page news, this part of the story gets lost in the shuffle.

Tabloids, TV and the Internet are abuzz with the seedier side of Tiger Woods’ recent personal troubles. While most of the reports focus on the pro golfer’s alleged affairs and the hit to his image and lucrative brand, they don’t say much about the single-car crash that started the media firestorm.

One news outlet, the Toronto Star, did report on Dec. 8, 2010 that police reports released earlier that week say that Woods was admitted to Health Central on Nov. 27th as the possible victim of an overdose. The newspaper also cited a recently leaked police report that said Woods’ wife, Elin Nordegren, told a police officer who arrived after Woods' crash that her husband had been drinking and held prescriptions for Ambien, a sedative, and Vicodin, a painkiller.

In the early morning accident, Woods ran over a fire hydrant and struck a tree while attempting to pull out of the driveway of his luxury Florida home. “Impairment of the driver is also suspected due to the careless driving that resulted in the traffic crash," Florida Highway Patrol Trooper Joshua Evans wrote in his report. Neighbors have gone on the record saying that when they came out to offer assistance, they found Woods “snoring” beside his car, unusual for someone who had just been involved in an accident. When Florida Highway Patrol officers attempted to get a blood sample or to question Woods following the incident, the golfer did not make himself available. Authorities later issued Woods a $164 fine for careless driving.

Vicodin is a popular prescription painkiller that has become widely abused in recent years. In contrast, Ambien is a sedative that affects chemicals in the brain, causing relaxation so an individual can fall asleep. The brand-name drug is intended for the short-term treatment of insomnia, and there have been reports of someone taking Ambien and then engaging in activities including driving, eating or making phone calls and later having no memory of the activity.

Prescription Drug Abuse

Ambien addiction or abuse is less talked about than other prescription drug addictions like Vicodin, but it may be a growing problem. If you or someone you love is struggling with an addiction to any prescription medication, contact The Canyon at the toll-free number on our homepage. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day.