Mike Tyson Admits Past Fentanyl Use as Health Concerns Grow Ahead of Scheduled Return

Mike Tyson said he used the opioid fentanyl "quite a few times" at the height of his boxing career in the 1990s, the former heavyweight champion said during a recent podcast appearance, a disclosure that intensified public scrutiny of his health as he prepares for a scheduled comeback. Tyson, 59, made the comments on "The Katie Miller Podcast," describing the drug as a painkiller he used to treat a toe injury and comparing its withdrawal effects to heroin.

"It was a painkiller, and I used to use it to patch up my toe," Tyson said on the podcast. "It 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. It was illegal if it [was] caught in my bloodstream. It was a narcotic, my friend told me. It was brand new. I told my friend 'could I use this?' No one ever heard of it.'"

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid approved for severe pain and as an anesthetic in medical settings; it is substantially more potent than morphine or heroin, and has been tied to a rise in overdose deaths in the United States in recent years. Tyson's admission adds to a long public record of substance struggles that have punctuated his career and post-boxing life.

Tyson has previously written about and discussed drug use. In his 2013 autobiography, The Undisputed Truth, he acknowledged using marijuana and cocaine before fights, and he has publicly detailed battles with alcohol and sex addiction. In a 2020 interview with The Fight Network, Tyson said he was "on the verge of dying" from alcoholism and that he had been trying to get sober.

News of the fentanyl admission arrived weeks after Tyson and Floyd Mayweather announced plans for a fight next year. Tyson, who returned to the ring for exhibition bouts in recent years, was forced to postpone a scheduled fight with Jake Paul last year because of an ulcer and subsequently lost a bout to Paul by unanimous decision. Those events prompted concern from some fans and commentators about Tyson's ability to safely compete against high-profile opponents at his age.

Tyson has become vocal on other public policy issues in recent years, including advocacy for legalizing marijuana. He has appeared on television and aligned with a group called the "Coalition of Athletes and Entertainers Supporting President Trump's Policy Objectives," and has said the coalition is working with organizations such as The Weldon Project to aid those serving sentences for cannabis-related offenses.

Medical experts and public-health authorities emphasize that fentanyl is a powerful opioid whose nonmedical use carries serious risks, including respiratory depression and fatal overdose. Tyson's comments do not indicate his current medical state, and he has said in past interviews that he seeks to live a sober life.

Promoters have announced the proposed Mayweather matchup but have not released a fight date or venue, and neither fighter has provided full public medical clearances related to a sanctioned bout. As plans progress, athletic commissions and promoters typically require medical examinations and clearances before finalizing the details of a professional fight.

Tyson's admission contributes to an ongoing public conversation about athlete health, substance use and the medical oversight of older fighters returning to competition. Organizers and regulators overseeing planned bouts will face renewed attention on how they assess and manage medical risk for participants.