Kristian Ferrell
In 2015, former NBA star Lamar Odom suffered a near-fatal overdose at a Las Vegas brothel. Odom was found unresponsive and hospitalized, having suffered 12 seizures, six strokes, and two heart attacks. After being in a coma, Odom made a miraculous recovery, defying doctors' expectations. Odom's overdose brought attention to his struggles with substance abuse and personal issues, which had impacted his basketball career. Despite facing challenges with rehabilitation and potential brain damage, Odom worked towards recovery and even returned to playing basketball in 2019.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of incident | 13 October 2015 |
| Location | Love Ranch South, Pahrump, Nevada |
| Hospital | Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center |
| Condition | Unconscious; suffered 12 seizures, 6 strokes, and his heart stopped twice; placed on a ventilator; brain damage |
| Substances found | Cocaine, opiates, and crack cocaine |
| Recovery | Odom was walking and talking after being released from the hospital; he has returned to training and playing basketball in the BIG3 |
| Addiction | Odom has written about his battle with addiction in his memoir, "Darkness to Light" |
| Personal life | Odom married Khloe Kardashian in 2009; he has spoken about hiding his drug use and sex addiction from her |
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What You'll Learn
Lamar Odom's near-death experience at a brothel
In 2015, Lamar Odom, a former NBA star, suffered a near-death experience at a Las Vegas brothel called Love Ranch South in Pahrump, Nevada. Odom was hospitalised after being found unconscious, having suffered 12 seizures, six strokes, and his heart stopping twice. Odom himself stated that he had no memory of taking any drugs that day, let alone near-lethal doses. However, witnesses at the hospital reported that Odom had track marks on one of his arms, and doctors determined that he had cocaine and opiates in his system. Odom was in a coma for some time, and doctors were astounded by his recovery, with one doctor stating that Odom was "a walking miracle". Odom himself reflected on his near-death experience in his memoir, "Darkness to Light", where he discusses his overdose and his battle with addiction. In the memoir, Odom also mentions his mother, who died of cancer when he was 12, and how he used drugs to fill the void left by her death.
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Odom's battle with addiction
Lamar Odom's battle with addiction has been well-documented. The former NBA player has been open about his struggles with drug addiction and sex addiction, which have had a significant impact on his life and career.
Odom's issues with addiction began at a young age. He had a difficult childhood, with a father who was a drug user and a mother who died of cancer when Odom was just 12 years old. These early traumas influenced his later life, and he has said that he turned to basketball as a salvation. However, despite his success in the NBA, Odom continued to struggle with addiction. He has admitted to using drugs to enhance his sexual experiences, and his drug use escalated to the point where he was repeatedly risking death from overdoses. In his memoir, "Darkness to Light," Odom revealed that he had spent about $100 million on drugs and detailed a near-death experience in 2015 when he was found unconscious at a brothel in Las Vegas after a four-day bender. He suffered 12 seizures, six strokes, and his heart stopped twice. Doctors were astonished by his survival, and Odom himself referred to it as a miracle.
Odom's addictions also led to infidelity in his marriage to Khloe Kardashian, with whom he wed in 2009 after a whirlwind one-month romance. The marriage was troubled from the start due to his addictions and infidelities, and the couple separated in 2013, finalising their divorce in 2016. Odom has since sought treatment for his addictions and has been open about his recovery journey. He has returned to training and has even published a memoir, detailing his struggles and his path to recovery.
Odom's story serves as a reminder of the complex and often interrelated nature of addictions, as well as the possibility of recovery and triumph over adversity.
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The overdose that nearly took his life
In 2015, Odom suffered a near-fatal overdose at a Las Vegas brothel. He was found unresponsive, having suffered 12 seizures and six strokes, and his heart stopped twice. Odom was subsequently hospitalized and placed in a coma. Doctors discovered that he had cocaine and opiates in his system, and fluid in his lungs resulting from crack cocaine use. Odom himself has no memory of taking drugs that day.
Odom's overdose was likely the culmination of a long history of drug abuse and addiction. In an interview with ABC News' Juju Chang, Odom revealed that he had been hiding his drug use from his then-wife, Khloe Kardashian, and recalled an incident where he threatened to kill her in a drug-induced rage. Odom's drug abuse also reportedly escalated after a disappointing stint playing for the Dallas Mavericks, and he has admitted to using cocaine and prostitutes.
Odom made a slow and challenging recovery from his overdose. He experienced significant improvements in his breathing, vision, and ability to have simple conversations. He also began physical therapy to regain his ability to walk. However, doctors feared he had suffered permanent brain damage, as he struggled to recognize longtime friends and family members. Odom himself acknowledged the long road to rehabilitation ahead of him.
In his memoir, "Darkness to Light," Odom opens up about his overdose and his battle with addiction. He reflects on how his life took a turn for the worse despite his successful NBA career and marriage, with his struggles beginning at the age of 12 when his mother died of cancer. Odom's recovery and return to training have been documented, and he has even made a return to playing basketball in the BIG3 league.
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Doctors' fears of Odom suffering from severe brain damage
In 2015, Odom was found unconscious at a brothel in Nevada after a four-day bender. He suffered 12 seizures, six strokes, and his heart stopped twice. Odom was hospitalized and put on a ventilator, and doctors found fluid in his lungs as a result of crack cocaine use. Odom also had track marks on his arms, indicating possible drug injections.
Odom survived and was released from the hospital, but his recovery process was slow and challenging. He experienced memory loss, impaired balance, and limited range of motion in his hands. Doctors feared that Odom had suffered severe brain damage, and warned his family that he may have permanent damage. The extent of the brain damage was uncertain, and it was reported that Odom's brain function was slowly improving. Odom himself acknowledged the severity of his condition, expressing gratitude for his survival and a new perspective on life.
Odom's near-death experience brought attention to his struggles with substance abuse and addiction. He admitted to hiding his drug use and sex addiction from his then-wife, Khloe Kardashian, and recalled a drug-induced rage incident where he threatened her. Odom's drug abuse escalated after a move to Dallas, and his addiction issues were further complicated by underlying factors.
Odom's recovery was a long and arduous journey. He underwent physical therapy and experienced gradual improvements in his breathing, vision, and conversational abilities. He also resumed training, including boxing and weight training, and made a return to the public eye at Kanye West's Yeezy Fashion Show, accompanied by Kardashian. Odom's progress inspired hope, with his former coach, Jim Harrick, acknowledging the long road ahead while expressing confidence in Odom's ability to overcome his challenges.
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Odom's return to basketball in the BIG3
In 2015, Odom's world came crashing down after a near-fatal overdose at a Las Vegas brothel. Odom was hospitalised and placed on a ventilator, with doctors determining that he had cocaine and opiates in his system. He was later released from the hospital and, in 2016, completed a month-long stint in rehab.
In February 2019, Odom officially joined the BIG3 draft pool, marking his return to professional basketball. The BIG3 is a professional 3-on-3 half-court basketball league founded by Ice Cube and Jeff Kwatinetz. Odom's decision to return to basketball was motivated by his desire to show others that it is possible to overcome addiction and lead a happy life.
Odom acknowledged that his natural abilities on the court had diminished, and he faced challenges with ball handling and dribbling. However, he remained optimistic and dedicated to his new team, the Enemies, which included former NBA players Gilbert Arenas, Perry Jones III, Craig Smith, Royce White, and Frank Robinson.
Odom's return to the basketball court was filled with emotion, especially as it took place in Las Vegas, the city where he had nearly lost his life. He expressed gratitude for his recovery and the opportunity to play again, stating that he believed in the power of will and refused to listen to his fears. Odom also drew inspiration from LeBron James, who had excelled in his 15th season, proving that age is just a number when it comes to athletic performance.
Odom's comeback in the BIG3 served as a testament to his resilience and determination, offering him a chance to rewrite his basketball journey and inspire others facing similar struggles.
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Frequently asked questions
Odom suffered a near-fatal overdose in a Las Vegas brothel in 2015. He was found unresponsive, having suffered 12 seizures, six strokes, and his heart stopped twice. Odom was also in a coma for a period of time.
Yes, Odom has been open about his struggles with addiction. He has also said that he was hiding his drug use from his then-wife, Khloe Kardashian.
Doctors feared Odom had suffered significant brain damage. He also had to undergo physical therapy to learn to walk again.
Yes, Odom returned to playing basketball in the BIG3 league in 2019.
