Ant McPartlin: Painkillers, Alcohol, and Depression
Anthony “Ant“ McPartlin Is undoubtedly one of England’s best-known television presenters, producers, and actors—best known as one half of Ant & Dec with the other being Declan Donnelly.
McPartlin and Donnelly have had a very successful career as television presenters, currently presenting I’m a Celebrity…Get Me Out of Here! Since 2002, Ant & Dec’s Saturday Night Takeaway and Britain’s Got Talent since 2007.
Always bearing an enthusiastic smile and attitude on screen, it was a shock to all of Britain to hear that McPartlin had been struggling with prescription drug addiction, alcohol, and substance abuse for over two years. He got hooked on painkillers following a serious knee injury in 2014 and a botched operation the following year. The drug of choice was tramadol which is used after moderate to severe injuries.
McPartlin spoke out about abusing alcohol while taking tramadol and other non-prescription drugs causing an extremely harmful bodily reaction from the killer cocktail.
Some side effects from extreme use of tramadol include:
- Seizures
- Depression
- Addiction
- Hallucinations
- Kidney failure
- Liver failure
McPartlin talked about his experience with tramadol stating that after mixing it with alcohol, he began suffering hallucinations and a year-long bout with depression. His addiction even put his marriage at risk—he confirmed that he put his wife, Lisa Armstrong, “through hell” during this time.
One night in early 2017, McPartlin took his painkillers and alcohol of choice, resulting in a bad reaction. Hallucinating and frightened he begged his wife to rush him to the hospital. It was time to stop. In June of 2017, he checked himself into rehab and remained for two months.
Post-rehab McPartlin was walking free again with a smile on his face, ready to get back on screen with his best mate and co-star. McPartlin was fortunate enough to not take it beyond the point of his control. Others are not so blessed.
Prescription painkillers are not exempt from abuse. They are, if abused, just as addictive and dangerous as non-prescription drugs. Any individual can become a victim of them. Celebrities are not the only ones. Around 65% of patients at UK addiction centres have problems with legal substances, from alcohol to common painkillers such as codeine.
In June of 2017, it was reported by a leading addiction treatment organisation that prescription drug abuse is expected to surpass heroin abuse in 2017. The founder of the organisation stated, “A lack of awareness around the addictive properties of these drugs along with the fact they are cheap and legal makes addiction difficult to spot. Opiates prescribed for pain can be very addictive. Codeine, diazepam, benzos, and tramadol are all causing problems.”
I once took prescription painkillers after a sports injury rendered me immobile. It caused fevers, nausea, depression and terrible mood swings which would have never stopped had my mother not aided me in getting relief.
If you or someone you know needs help getting off of drugs—prescription or not, contact Narconon UK. They are dedicated to providing the highest level of natural, drug-free, addiction rehabilitation.
Warning:
Always seek advice from your medical practitioner
if you wish to change or come off prescription drugs.
References
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_McPartlin
- https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4232422/ant-mcpartlin-addiction-drug-painkillers-rehab-alcohol-dec/
- https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4128818/ant-mcpartlin-smile-rehab-trips-out/
- https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/4950160/dan-wootton-opinion-ant-dec-im-a-celebrity-2017/
- https://beta.nhs.uk/medicines/tramadol/
- http://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/prescription-drugs-heroin-addiction-warning-rehab-ukat-a7776986.html
