Premier League players are becoming hooked on sleeping pills, according to the Sun.
The report claims that plenty of topflight stars are mixing the pills with alcohol in order to experience a ‘recreational high’.
Substances such as Zopiclone and Zolpidem are now being consumed by football stars at an alarming rate, putting their lives and careers at risk.
Premier League stars are becoming hooked on sleeping pills for a dangerous high and two more England internationals have been reportedly accessing the black market to obtain the medication (stock picture)
It was recently revealed that an England international had become hooked on sleeping pills and mixed them with vodka while attending illegal lockdown parties.
And now the Sun have claimed that two more Three Lions stars have turned to the black market to get their hands on larger quantities of the Class C prescription medication.
Details have emerged – via the report – that a wife or girlfriend of one of the unnamed players had returned home to find her partner out cold on the sofa while their children were in hysterics trying to wake them up.
A source close to the family said: ‘They’re destroying him — and those around him.’
The England star who was revealed as the first to be addicted to the pills – but still remains unidentified – was described as ‘off his face’ while under the influence.
‘I couldn’t believe it and turned to my friend, who is a team-mate,’ a source who attended a Covid-rule breaking party told The Sun.
‘He told me this is why he has been struggling. He is addicted to the tablets.
‘His team-mates and friends are really worried. It will totally affect his game
‘The troubled player was off his face and dancing on a coffee table. He was completely out of it and didn’t know what he was doing or saying.’
Some Premier League stars are accessing the black market in order to obtain higher quantities and passing them around in the dressing room.
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One of the unnamed Three Lions’ players was initially prescribed a small dosage of Zolpidem by a club doctor.
However, he started to mix the medication with alcohol and has since become dependent.
A source told the Sun: ‘He has been taking them every single day for the last year. It has become part of his routine.
‘He’d take them before bed but it soon progressed to whenever and wherever.
The WAG of an unnamed Premier League star has been left worrying for her partner’s life, according to the report
‘They are destroying him and those around him. Taking sleeping tablets is rife among some of his teammates and at other clubs too.
‘There’s an open conversation between players about who can get what and where from. It’s out of control. The pills need to be banned.
‘What if a player was behind the wheel and killed someone you love?
‘They don’t consider the repercussions. They think they’re invincible.’
They also revealed that the club have become aware and have offered their support.
‘The club has recommended he seek therapy to address it. His partner is worried and wants him to get help urgently.’
Despite the risk to health, the substances are not on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s list of banned substances.
However, behind the scenes there are now calls for clubs to regularly test their players for the substances and to have them added to the banned list.
Sleeping pills are widely available from doctors or online.
They are commonly used to help players get to sleep after the adrenaline rush of matches played in the evening, but they also produce a high when mixed with alcohol.
However, there are harmful effects to taking them recreationally, including dependence and the potential to overdose.
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