Jim Ross Was Addicted To Xanax And Ambien: “I Wasn’t In Real Great Shape”
Jim Ross opened up about his past issues with drug addiction and warned that it can happen to anybody.
Ross spoke to The A.V. Club for an interview promoting his book "Slobberknocker: My Life In Wrestling." The WWE Hall of Famer said his past issues with sleeping resulted in him taking drugs, drugs that he would eventually abuse and take while drinking alcohol.
“You’re going to hear about my addiction to drugs," Ross said. "I was addicted to Ambien and Xanax, together, with Crown Royal. I was on Uranus, and Pluto, and Neptune, and everywhere else late at night. [Because] I had severe sleep apnea – and still do – I stopped breathing 99 times in an hour in a sleep test. So I wasn't in real great shape with that deal.”
Ross said he has been using Ambien for ten years and then once he truly realized he needed to end his addiction, Ross finally stopped.
“Ambien is a temporary medication for insomnia," Ross said. "Temporary. Not ten years. …It’s not a [revolutionary] story, it’s eye-opening, and shows it can happen to anybody. It was like smoking, I just decided one day to quit smoking, and stopped. Done, I’m done.”
Returning to the WWE to do commentary for the main event of WrestleMania 33, Ross has sporadically done commentary, mainly for the WWE U.K. Championship special and for the Tyler Bate vs. Pete Dunne match at NXT TakeOver: Chicago. The interview can be seen in the video above.
