Oxford United’s psychotherapist, Gary Bloom, has raised alarm about the widespread addiction to sleeping pills among football players, an issue he says is more pervasive than generally acknowledged.
This comes after Everton midfielder Dele Alli’s revelation of undergoing a six-week rehab program to combat his sleeping pill addiction and associated mental health challenges.
Bloom, who is currently the sole psychotherapist employed by an English football club, supports Alli’s assertion, as does former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland, who pointed out that addiction is a serious problem in football.
Alli confessed his excessive use of sleeping tablets during a heartfelt interview with The Overlap podcast, stating that the misuse of these drugs is more common in the football community than most people think.
Bloom, who previously worked as a commentator and has been with Oxford, a League One side, for five years, highlighted the correlation between optimizing field performance and difficulty sleeping.
He also mentioned the prevalent use of caffeine stimulants during matches, leading to players becoming overly stimulated and struggling to sleep. As a result, they turn to sleeping tablets, perpetuating the cycle.
Last year, Ryan Cresswell, an ex-defender for Rotherham and Northampton, shared his own struggles with sleeping pill addiction, describing the experience as clinging desperately to life. Bloom believes football clubs need to offer more psychological support to their players.
In his view, more football clubs should employ psychotherapists to engage directly with players, helping them to understand the potential fallout of not addressing their personal issues.
In response to Alli’s revelations, Dr. Michael Bennett, the director of player wellbeing at the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA), reminded us that even small doses of prescription medications can lead to dependency.
He urged players concerned about a potential dependency on sleeping tablets or other prescription drugs to seek confidential support from the PFA.
Kirkland further argued for a more empathetic societal approach to dealing with addiction, calling for help and understanding rather than condemnation, particularly for those in the public eye.
