Mike Tyson Details Near-Fatal Overdose in New Netflix Documentary
The former heavyweight champion recounts a harrowing experience with cocaine abuse and discusses his use of toad venom as a path to sobriety.
In a new four-part Netflix documentary titled “Tyson,” former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson revealed the severity of his past drug abuse, detailing a near-fatal overdose that left him bleeding and hysterical. Tyson described the incident as one of his most extreme experiences with cocaine.
“When I think about a low point, I think about this — OD’ing. I’m bleeding out, my nose is bleeding and I’m hysterical. I’m sweating,” Tyson said in the documentary, as reported by The Sun. “I OD’d, I’ve done it plenty of times but this one was a little more extreme than others.”
The 60-year-old boxer has a history of legal troubles related to drug use. In December 2006, he was arrested for drug possession and driving under the influence, admitting at the time to being a cocaine addict. He pleaded guilty in September 2007, acknowledging he was under the influence of cocaine and alcohol. While he could have faced up to four years in prison, he received three years of probation for drug possession and served one day in jail for the DUI in November 2007.
More recently, Tyson returned to the boxing ring at age 58 for a match against Jake Paul. The documentary also touches on Tyson’s use of 5-MeO-DMT, a substance derived from the venom of the Bufo alvarius toad, as a method to combat his addiction. He previously spoke about his experiences with toad venom in 2021, describing his first trip as a near-death experience that ultimately helped him confront his internal struggles.
“I did it as a dare,” Tyson said in 2021. “I was doing heavy drugs like cocaine, so why not? It’s another dimension. Before I did the toad, I was a wreck. The toughest opponent I ever faced was myself. I had low self-esteem. People with big egos often have low self-esteem. We use our ego to subsidize that. The toad strips the ego.”
Tyson’s wife, Lakiha “Kiki” Spicer, also shared insights in the documentary about their efforts to help him overcome addiction, leading to his introduction to the toad venom treatment. According to Spicer, a friend connected them with a shaman who administered the 5-MeO-DMT.
“Whatever kind of addictions or things that you’re going through, it helps level them in your mind,” Spicer said. Tyson stated that he has used toad venom over 100 times and has been sober from cocaine and alcohol since beginning this practice, noting that he turns to it for making significant decisions.