Mike Tyson says he used fentanyl 'quite a few times' during late 1990s, compares effects to heroin

Mike Tyson said he used the opioid fentanyl "quite a few times" during the late 1990s to treat pain from a toe injury and described the drug's effects and withdrawal as similar to heroin.

Tyson made the disclosure on the Katie Miller Podcast, saying he used fentanyl patches to "patch up my toe" and that the drug "was like heroin — once it wears off and you take the Band-Aid off, you start withdrawing, throwing up, just like if you were on heroin." He said he stopped because the drug was illegal for athletes and could show up on blood tests.

Tyson, who has been a longtime advocate for marijuana use by athletes, reiterated his position that cannabis is medicine and argued it should be more available to people in sports. He said in a separate interview with Fox News Digital on June 30, his 59th birthday, that whether he returns to the ring could depend on federal changes to cannabis law, including rescheduling.

In recent weeks Tyson led a coalition of current and former athletes who signed a letter to the White House urging federal cannabis reform. The letter requested that cannabis be moved from Schedule I to Schedule III under federal drug classifications, sought clemency for nonviolent marijuana offenses and asked for an end to what it called discriminatory banking practices affecting the cannabis industry.

Tyson told Fox News he regarded rescheduling as the "most important" goal in the coalition's appeal. He said he was disappointed by the handling of marijuana reform under former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden and expressed hope that a different approach could come from other leaders.

Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid used medically for severe pain but is also associated with high dependence potential and a rise in overdose deaths when diverted or used outside medical guidance. Tyson's account described the rapid onset of fentanyl's effects and the difficulty he experienced when attempting to stop use, noting withdrawal symptoms that mirrored those associated with other opioids.

Tyson has previously spoken publicly about drug use and recovery at different points in his life. His comments on fentanyl add to a longer conversation about pain management for professional athletes, where the use of prescription opioids, alternative therapies and marijuana has drawn scrutiny from sports leagues, regulators and public health officials.

In advocating for cannabis reform, Tyson and others argue that marijuana can serve therapeutic roles for athletes and veterans and that current federal classification creates legal and financial barriers for the industry. The coalition's recommendations mirror proposals from other advocacy groups that have sought lower scheduling, clemency measures and reform of financial rules that restrict cannabis businesses.

Tyson's remarks on the podcast and in interviews add a public voice to the ongoing national debate over opioid use, addiction risk and the role of cannabis in pain management. He called marijuana "not a drug" but "medicine," and said athletes can "play better" under its influence, remarks that reflect a broader push by some professional and retired athletes for changes in federal policy.

Tyson's comments come amid heightened public health attention to synthetic opioids and continued legislative and regulatory discussion of cannabis at state and federal levels. He did not provide medical records to substantiate his account, and his statements about testing and legality referred to conversations he said he had with associates at the time.

The former heavyweight champion's disclosures are likely to renew conversations among sports organizations, athletes and public health officials about pain management practices, the risks of opioid dependence, and the policy pathways for cannabis reform that advocates say would expand treatment options and reduce criminal penalties for nonviolent offenses.