AN ex-Premier League ace has been banned from pharmacies for using a fake prescription to obtain sleeping pills.
The former England under-21 international is one 78 football stars known to be seeking help for their addiction to drugs or booze.
The household name was said to have used a letter containing the name and details of real doctors from a surgery in Bournemouth to obtain zopiclone.
Also known as “sleepers”, the drug can create a recreational high when mixed with alcohol.
The player became aggressive when told by pharmacy staff the prescription was fake — and fled before police were called.
A source said: “There was a horrible set-to when he was refused his sleeping pills. The staff felt they were in danger.
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“An alert was written to warn other pharmacies. He went on to try virtually every other chemist in South London.”
NHS England confirmed it sent a warning to all London pharmacies advising staff not to serve the individual.
The Players Foundation — previously the PFA — said 38 current and 40 retired stars were treated for substance abuse last season — a rise on the 59 total of the year before.
Thirty-five went into rehab.
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We previously told of a struggling England ace popping zopiclone with champagne or vodka.
And two other Three Lions players have turned to the black market to get their hands on larger quantities of the class C prescription medication.
Nitrous oxide is also said to be increasingly popular among footballers, with Players Foundation chief Colin Bland seeing a “notable increase” during Covid.
The union is working with the Sporting Chance clinic to boost care for stars.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
