Tiger Woods’ recent DUI arrest has nearly daily unveiled more layers and exposed a harsh reality about the prevalence and dangers of painkiller abuse in the U.S.
Making his first public comments in close to a month, Tiger revealed via twitter that he is now receiving professional help for his painkiller management.
The 14-time major winner has been dealing with back pain for years, pain which has led to him making just a small handful of starts on the PGA Tour over the past 24 months.
Between pain management and a sleeping disorder, Tiger has found it difficult to properly management the copious medications he has been prescribed.
Bullets
- Potent Cocktail: During the May 29th DUI arrest, Tiger revealed to officers that he has been taking Xanax. At a testing facility, he later told officers that he was on at least four other medications, including Vicodin, one of the most prescribed and most abused painkillers.
- Addiction Treatment: In addition, Leigh Steinberg, Tiger’s agent, told ESPN that Tiger has is currently receiving in-patient treatment to help control a painkiller addiction. Steinberg mentioned that along with frequent pain from his history of back injuries and surgeries, Tiger also suffers from insomnia.
- Court Date: Tiger’s court date for his DUI is August 9th in Florida. It is possible that he could have his charges lowered to a lesser offense.
The Tweet
“I’m currently receiving professional help to manage my medications and the ways that I deal with back pain and a sleeping disorder. I want to thank everyone for the amazing outpouring of support and understanding especially the fans and players on tour.”
–Tiger Woods