Shaquille O'Neal opens up on addiction with painkillers.

Watch Shaquille O'Neal opens up on addiction with painkillers. - New York Post on Dailymotion

Transcript

00:00And yeah, you had to be on pain pills.

00:02How did that not grab you?

00:04Or did it grab you a little bit?

00:06Have you ever been scared about any of that?

00:07Addiction-wise.

00:08I have a question.

00:09Yeah.

00:09Is addicting for the chemical effect, or are you just taking it?

00:14Because I was having a huge discussion with my doctor.

00:17He's like, you were addicted.

00:18Uh-huh.

00:18But I didn't feel high.

00:20Right.

00:20You just felt the absence of pain.

00:23Yes.

00:24So I didn't know that was addiction.

00:26But let's get deeper, Shaq.

00:27So there's the absence of physical pain.

00:30And then there's the absence of the mental anguish.

00:32So even if you're not feeling high, but you're suffering mentally, and that thing provides relief.

00:38See, I don't think I was suffering mentally.

00:41I just, like, if I had a knack, I would take it.

00:44I don't want to feel that knack because we need this game.

00:46Yeah.

00:47Yeah, it was more physical.

00:47Well, you said I could play good without them.

00:50Yes, but I needed to play great.

00:51But to be great, I had to be on them.