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Gazza's 'drug-fuelled paranoia' Gazza's 'drug-fuelled paranoia'
(1 day later)
Paul Gascoigne has described how his drug-induced paranoia led him to insanity during some of his darkest hours.Paul Gascoigne has described how his drug-induced paranoia led him to insanity during some of his darkest hours.
During a BBC interview, the former England football star admitted locking the bible in a safe, fearing that it was "listening" to his conversations.During a BBC interview, the former England football star admitted locking the bible in a safe, fearing that it was "listening" to his conversations.
The 41-year-old spent weeks on cocaine binges in hotels in Gateshead and was too scared to go outside.The 41-year-old spent weeks on cocaine binges in hotels in Gateshead and was too scared to go outside.
He said: "My heart failed three times while I was taking drugs."He said: "My heart failed three times while I was taking drugs."
He added: "This time, when I went into rehab, they asked me who I was, and I really didn't know.He added: "This time, when I went into rehab, they asked me who I was, and I really didn't know.
"The Gazza side of me is still there; the fun and jokes, but now I want to become Paul Gascoigne and for people to know me as Paul Gascoigne - not too serious but serious enough about things that matter to me."The Gazza side of me is still there; the fun and jokes, but now I want to become Paul Gascoigne and for people to know me as Paul Gascoigne - not too serious but serious enough about things that matter to me.
It was a shock to be sectioned, to be put in a mental home, but it was my family's choice because they could not do anything for me. Paul GascoigneIt was a shock to be sectioned, to be put in a mental home, but it was my family's choice because they could not do anything for me. Paul Gascoigne
"I have worked on myself and I have got better, but it has taken a long time."I have worked on myself and I have got better, but it has taken a long time.
"At one point I got really paranoid. I was drinking a lot, not a bottle of whisky a day, but gin because I thought people could not smell it."At one point I got really paranoid. I was drinking a lot, not a bottle of whisky a day, but gin because I thought people could not smell it.
"I'm not the first person to say 'I will do this and I will do that', but this time my recovery will come first, before everything else."I'm not the first person to say 'I will do this and I will do that', but this time my recovery will come first, before everything else.
"In the past every time I left rehab I thought 'I'm going to have a drink' and I had no thought of that this time.""In the past every time I left rehab I thought 'I'm going to have a drink' and I had no thought of that this time."
Gascoigne became a millionaire overnight when he was transferred from Newcastle to Spurs in 1988, and later secured a £1.25m deal with Italian club Lazio. Gascoigne became a millionaire overnight when he was transferred from Newcastle to Spurs in 1988, and later secured a £1.25m deal with Italian club Lazio.
He retired in 2004 and his addiction to drugs and alcohol spiralled out of control.He retired in 2004 and his addiction to drugs and alcohol spiralled out of control.
Now he is working on a 12-steps rehabilitation programme and going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.Now he is working on a 12-steps rehabilitation programme and going to Alcoholics Anonymous meetings.
He added: "It was a shock to be sectioned, to be put in a mental home, but it was my family's choice because they could not do anything for me.He added: "It was a shock to be sectioned, to be put in a mental home, but it was my family's choice because they could not do anything for me.
"When I was in hospital my heart failed three times on me."When I was in hospital my heart failed three times on me.
"I was on cocaine for six weeks and that's all it took. It's a warning for kids, never touch cocaine. It is scary where it can lead you.""I was on cocaine for six weeks and that's all it took. It's a warning for kids, never touch cocaine. It is scary where it can lead you."