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News

Joey Swoll “Clean, Happy, In A Great Place,” Reflects On Overdose Three Years Later: “I Tried to End It All”

by Greg Patuto Published on Sep 13, 2023

This post may contain affiliate links (disclosure policy).

Joey Swoll is “clean, happy, and in a great place” three years after suffering from an addiction to pain killers.

Joey Swoll has built an incredible following and platform on social media due to his way of defending those who do not have a voice. Swoll consistency preaches positive gym culture and believes that it should be a place that is respected. On Tuesday, the fitness star reflected on a period three years ago where he was not in the same place.

Over the years, Swoll has spoken out against “toxic gym culture.” He has built a successful social media platform where he is able to give a voice to those who do not have the same following. In these videos, Swoll has defended those who have been falsely accused of inappropriate behavior or those embarrassed in any way.

Swoll has changed his tone recently and is showing off videos of gym goers who film in a disrespectful way. He wants athletes to remember others when filming and if they can’t do that then they “shouldn’t film at all.” He also showed off gym rules that should be followed to respect the public place where people go to better themselves.

In 2021, Joey Swoll sat down with Generation Iron to discuss his addiction and recovery. It was a long and insightful interview breaking down the intricacies of addiction and how the struggles were enhanced due to the pandemic lockdowns.

Joey Swoll: “I Didn’t Think I Was Going To Wake Up”

Joey Swoll has recently been discussing his addiction and recovery, including an interview with Flex Lewis on an episode of Straight Outta The Lair back in August. On Tuesday, he took to Instagram to share a post and speak on the events of three years ago.

“3 years ago I tried to end it all. Suffering from depression and addiction, I needed help. That night I called a friend to tell them I was hurting, scared, and really needed someone to be there for me. I NEVER asked anyone for help because I was too proud and it made me feel weak. Their response was “I”m too tired to drive 45 minutes to see you.” That broke me and I just hung up the phone.”

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Joey Swoll (@joeyswoll)

Joey Swoll has recovered from his battle with addiction and drug abuse. Now, he is grateful for each day and continues to help others in their journeys, both in and out of the gym.

“That pain pushed me over the edge to end it and it was one of the scariest nights of my life. I didn’t think I was going to wake up the next morning. Thank God I did and every single day I’ve opened my eyes after that has been a blessing I”m very grateful for. 3 years later I’m clean, happy, and in a great place physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.”

For more news and updates, follow Generation Iron on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

About Greg Patuto

Greg has covered the four major sports for six years and has been featured on sites such as Sports Illustrated, Fox Sports, SB Nation, NJ.com, and FanSided. Now, he is transitioning into the world of bodybuilding and strength sports.

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