News / Health & Wellness
Jets QB Finds Healing From Addiction & Bipolar Disorder
Clean for nine months, Erik Ainge is speaking out about his drug abuse and bipolar disorder as a way to help others and bring attention to co-occurring disorders.
It’s nothing new to hear about a pro athlete falling prey to the lure of drugs, but amid all the media reports of celeb drug use, it’s easy to forget that each story is unique. Behind each of these news accounts is an individual, a real person who is struggling.
New York Jets backup quarterback Erik Ainge began experimenting with drugs when he was just a pre-teen, and by his senior year at Tennessee, he was addicted to prescription painkillers, he told ESPN. Like many others who use drugs, he didn't stick to one substance. Ainge’s drug use included pot, alcohol, cocaine, heroin and prescription drugs.
As a professional athlete, Ainge had achieved something that is the dream of hundreds of thousands of little boys (and some grown men). And yet he was living in a way that would destroy that career through drunk driving, multiple overdoses, several relapses, and missing the entire 2010 season because of his addiction, ESPN reports. In the late stages of his addiction, Ainge admits he was taking 25 Percocet at a time. Then five hours later, he'd do it again.
Co-occurring Disorders
Ainge also suffers from bipolar disorder, a condition that likely contributes to his drug abuse. In fact, studies have shown that a high percentage of all addicts have a co-occurring mental health issue like depression, bipolar, trauma or PTSD. They often begin using to self-medicate those issues and eventually become addicted. Addiction experts have found that treating addiction and any underlying mental health addiction together in a dual diagnosis program is the most effective, providing the best chance at long-term sobriety.
Ainge says he’s been clean since July 17, 2010 -- his longest stretch of sobriety since he was 11. Now he’s trying to help others by speaking out about his addiction and mental illness. His future in football remains uncertain, but he’s putting his sobriety first. “It's not like I'm fine and I'm cured and I'm ready to go, gung-ho, back at it,” he tells ESPN. “I want this to be the last time that I ever have to try to get clean, and I'm going slowly.”
Co-occurring Disorder Treatment
If you or someone you love is battling an addiction or co-occurring disorder, call The Canyon at our toll-free number. Someone is there to take your call 24 hours a day and answer any questions you have about treatment, financing or insurance.
