Fraizer Campbell reveals six-month recovery from snus addiction
Former Crystal Palace midfielder Campbell has confirmed he is six months free from snus after overcoming an addiction that intensified following his retirement.
Campbell said nicotine pouches became a major part of his routine after he was introduced to them by a Palace team-mate during his spell at Selhurst Park from 2014 to 2017. What began as a way to settle down after demanding matches developed into daily use and left him regularly exhausted.
From post-match release to daily dependence
- Campbell first used snus after games, believing it helped him come down from the pressure of playing. He said it made him feel calm at a time when switching off after a match could be difficult.
- The use then spread to training days. Campbell said the pattern became more frequent as dependency took hold.
- He began suffering pronounced afternoon energy crashes during his football career, although he did not fully understand the effect the habit was having while he was still playing.
- Campbell avoided taking snus on match days because it left him too relaxed to perform, but his use increased after retirement when he had more spare time.
- He has now stopped and says he has been clean for six months.
Support route for players
The Professional Footballers’ Association has recently opened a confidential support pathway for players dealing with nicotine dependence.
The move follows a 2024 study which found that one in five elite players uses snus or nicotine pouches. Further education programmes are expected across clubs as authorities attempt to address the growing use of the products in football.
