‘My family hugged me goodbye, convinced I was about to die’

Lloyd Green has been given a second chance at life, and is determined to take it

- ELLIE GOSLEY & EMILY PHILLIPS

A CARDIFF man who drank one litre of vodka and took 80 painkillers daily would wear “disguises” to dupe different pharmacies into selling him the medication.

Lloyd James Green racked up £18,000 worth of debt throughout his struggle with addiction.

The 34-year-old had an “unhealthy” relationship with alcohol during his teenage years, binge drinking at weekends. But when an old back injury resurfaced he was prescribed co-codamol and became dependent on it - taking up to six tablets three times a day. He then began taking codeine with ibuprofen alongside paracetamol, pushing his daily painkiller intake to as many as 12 tablets three to four times a day.

During three years working as a singer on cruise ships his alcohol consumption increased and when the Covid-19 pandemic brought his contract to an abrupt end drinking became an “all day everyday” habit.

He admits that even during his more “social” drinking days he would “sneak” an extra pint or shot at the bar before rejoining friends with a round.

But following his return from the cruise ships he began “completely hiding” his problem from those close to him.

At his worst, Lloyd was getting through a litre of vodka each day while taking 80 painkillers - 16 tablets, five times daily. He would disguise himself in different outfits to purchase over-the-counter painkillers from various pharmacies.

Lloyd also resorted to drinking hand sanitiser as a means of convincing himself he “didn’t have a problem”, as he was no longer purchasing alcohol.

Following numerous hospital stays, he was finally informed in June 2021 that his kidneys and liver were failing and he was just one hour away from irreparable damage.

After weaning himself off alcohol for a week following his discharge he has remained sober ever since and will mark five years free from alcohol and painkillers this June.