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Paul Gascoigne: boredom drove me back to drink Paul Gascoigne: boredom drove me back to drink
(6 months later)
Former England international Paul Gascoigne has blamed boredom for his latest struggle to beat alcohol addiction and said he would not rule out a return to drinking.Former England international Paul Gascoigne has blamed boredom for his latest struggle to beat alcohol addiction and said he would not rule out a return to drinking.
Gascoigne spent a month in a rehabilitation clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, after he suffered another relapse in his battle against alcoholism. The setback came to public attention during a charity appearance in Northampton in January where he broke down sobbing on stage while attempting to take part in a question and answer session with fans.Gascoigne spent a month in a rehabilitation clinic in Phoenix, Arizona, after he suffered another relapse in his battle against alcoholism. The setback came to public attention during a charity appearance in Northampton in January where he broke down sobbing on stage while attempting to take part in a question and answer session with fans.
He returned to the UK this month after his latest spell in rehab, which was organised by former England cricketer Ronnie Irani and Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans, a long-term friend of Gascoigne.He returned to the UK this month after his latest spell in rehab, which was organised by former England cricketer Ronnie Irani and Radio 2 presenter Chris Evans, a long-term friend of Gascoigne.
"There was no one to blame for my relapse. I might drink in the future but that's what it is, being an alcoholic," he said. "I didn't respond to [chief executive] Steve Spiegel [at] the Providence Projects [an alcohol and drug rehab organisation] and I should have done when I was feeling down and the support I got around the Providence was fantastic."There was no one to blame for my relapse. I might drink in the future but that's what it is, being an alcoholic," he said. "I didn't respond to [chief executive] Steve Spiegel [at] the Providence Projects [an alcohol and drug rehab organisation] and I should have done when I was feeling down and the support I got around the Providence was fantastic.
"I was just bored, that's the worst thing for me but I suppose it was me that made myself bored.""I was just bored, that's the worst thing for me but I suppose it was me that made myself bored."
Gascoigne, who played for Tottenham, Newcastle, Rangers, Everton and Lazio, insisted he is focused on his recovery although he is taking things one day at a time. "The last 11 years, I've probably drank 14 months out of it. The press say I'm drinking all the time, it's not. I was three years sober and then I had a four or five weeks binge. It's just those little binges, so I've just got to stop those binges."Gascoigne, who played for Tottenham, Newcastle, Rangers, Everton and Lazio, insisted he is focused on his recovery although he is taking things one day at a time. "The last 11 years, I've probably drank 14 months out of it. The press say I'm drinking all the time, it's not. I was three years sober and then I had a four or five weeks binge. It's just those little binges, so I've just got to stop those binges."
"When I'm drinking, I forget about everyone and don't realise the hurt I'm doing to everyone but I've also got to think about the hurt I was doing to myself."When I'm drinking, I forget about everyone and don't realise the hurt I'm doing to everyone but I've also got to think about the hurt I was doing to myself.
"I don't know if I'm ever going to touch a drink again. I just know that I'm not drinking today.""I don't know if I'm ever going to touch a drink again. I just know that I'm not drinking today."
Gascoigne's battle against alcohol addiction surfaced during his football career when he was admitted to the Priory hospital near Southampton in 1998 shortly after his divorce from wife Sheryl.Gascoigne's battle against alcohol addiction surfaced during his football career when he was admitted to the Priory hospital near Southampton in 1998 shortly after his divorce from wife Sheryl.
He has previously been admitted to rehab four times and was detained under the Mental Health Act in 2008 after being arrested in Newcastle.He has previously been admitted to rehab four times and was detained under the Mental Health Act in 2008 after being arrested in Newcastle.
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