Coordinates	2°31′″N101°48′″N
{{infobox disease | name	Substance dependency | Image | Caption | DiseasesDB | ICD10 .2-.2 | ICD9 - | ICDO | OMIM | MedlinePlus | eMedicineSubj | eMedicineTopic | MeshID D019966 }}

The section about substance dependence in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (more specifically, the 2000 "text revision", the DSM-IV-TR) does not use the word ''addiction'' at all. It explains:

When an individual persists in use of alcohol or other drugs despite problems related to use of the substance, substance dependence may be diagnosed. Compulsive and repetitive use may result in tolerance to the effect of the drug and withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped. This, along with Substance abuse are considered Substance Use Disorders....

This is far from the only way of defining the relevant terms, however (see "Defining terms" section below).

Brief overview

Doug Sellman at the National Addiction Center offers what he calls "The 10 most important things to know about addiction". He offers the following points, before explaining them in more detail (although even his full paper does not presume to be able to discuss all the important facts about addiction). First, Sellman says that the most important thing to know about addiction may be that addiction is "fundamentally about compulsive behaviour" (see also Obsessive compulsive disorder)". Second of all, such habits originate outside of consciousness (i.e. from the unconscious mind). The compulsive sequence of behaviours are so practiced that they can be extremely difficult to avoid initiating, and even harder to interrupt. Sellman maintains, thirdly, that addiction is 50% heritable. In other words, family background and genetics play a large role (see also Nature versus Nurture).

The fourth most important thing is that people with addictions often have other psychiatric problems (e.g. psychiatric disorders), which can complicate matters. Next, fifth, Sellman explains that addiction is characterized by frequent relapse, and that one should not expect to overcome addiction on the first try. The sixth point he makes is that the different forms of psychotherapy all produce similar results that may be based on what is common between them (i.e. a strong bond with a trusted friend). Sellman's seventh most important thing about addiction is that ‘come back when you're motivated’ is an inappropriate approach to addiction. Individuals have very specific problems, and so it is important to find ways to engage the addicted individual (Sellman describes how empathy is crucial, for example). His next, eighth point expands on this idea: Sellman says that doctors should apply as broad an approach to the individual as possible. This means combining various rejuvenating approaches, including prescription drugs, family therapy, social and legal support, providing accommodations, and more. The ninth important thing about addiction is that epiphanies are rare - even though they are the most popular kind of story to spread.

The tenth, and final important thing that Sellman explains is that change takes time (months or years of failing and trying more). He advocates for the importance of patience and persistence in practicing new behaviours over long periods of time. He concludes by appealing to all professionals involved in combating addiction; he asks that they all work together - because the combined knowledge of all fields is what is required.

Defining terms

According to the current Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), substance dependence is defined as:

When an individual persists in use of alcohol or other drugs despite problems related to use of the substance, substance dependence may be diagnosed. Compulsive and repetitive use may result in tolerance to the effect of the drug and withdrawal symptoms when use is reduced or stopped. This, along with Substance Abuse are considered Substance Use Disorders....

Substance dependence can be diagnosed with physiological dependence, evidence of tolerance or withdrawal, or without physiological dependence.

By the American Society of Addiction Medicine definition, drug addiction differs from drug dependence and drug tolerance. It is, both among scientists and other writers, quite usual to allow the concept of drug addiction to include persons who are not drug abusers according to the definition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine. The term drug addiction is then used as a category which may include the same persons who, under the DSM-IV, can be given the diagnosis of substance dependence or substance abuse. (See also DSM-IV Codes)

The terms ''abuse'' and ''addiction'' have been defined and re-defined over the years. The 1957 World Health Organization (WHO) Expert Committee on Addiction-Producing Drugs defined addiction and habituation as components of drug abuse:

Drug addiction is a state of periodic or chronic intoxication produced by the repeated consumption of a drug (natural or synthetic). Its characteristics include: (i) an overpowering desire or need (compulsion) to continue taking the drug and to obtain it by any means; (ii) a tendency to increase the dose; (iii) a psychic (psychological) and generally a physical dependence on the effects of the drug; and (iv) detrimental effects on the individual and on society.

Drug habituation (habit) is a condition resulting from the repeated consumption of a drug. Its characteristics include (i) a desire (but not a compulsion) to continue taking the drug for the sense of improved well-being which it engenders; (ii) little or no tendency to increase the dose; (iii) some degree of psychic dependence on the effect of the drug, but absence of physical dependence and hence of an abstinence syndrome [withdrawal], and (iv) detrimental effects, if any, primarily on the individual.

In 1964, a new WHO committee found these definitions to be inadequate, and suggested using the blanket term "drug dependence":

The definition of addiction gained some acceptance, but confusion in the use of the terms addiction and habituation and misuse of the former continued. Further, the list of drugs abused increased in number and diversity. These difficulties have become increasingly apparent and various attempts have been made to find a term that could be applied to drug abuse generally. The component in common appears to be dependence, whether psychic or physical or both. Hence, use of the term "drug dependence", with a modifying phase linking it to a particular drug type in order to differentiate one class of drugs from another, had been given most careful consideration. The Expert Committee recommends substitution of the term "drug dependence" for the terms "drug addiction" and "drug habituation".

The committee did not clearly define dependence, but did go on to clarify that there was a distinction between physical and psychological ("psychic") dependence. It said that drug abuse was "a state of psychic dependence or physical dependence, or both, on a drug, arising in a person following administration of that drug on a periodic or continued basis." Psychic dependence was defined as a state in which "there is a feeling of satisfaction and psychic drive that requires periodic or continuous administration of the drug to produce pleasure or to avoid discomfort" and all drugs were said to be capable of producing this state:

There is scarcely any agent which can be taken into the body to which some individuals will not get a reaction satisfactory or pleasurable to them, persuading them to continue its use even to the point of abuse – that is, to excessive or persistent use beyond medical need.

The 1957 and 1964 definitions of addiction, dependence and abuse persist to the present day in medical literature. It should be noted that at this time (2006) the Diagnostic Statistical Manual (DSM-IV-TR) now spells out specific criteria for defining abuse and dependence. (DSM-IV-TR) uses the term substance dependence instead of ''addiction''; a maladaptive pattern of substance abuse, leading to clinically significant impairment or distress, as manifested by three (or more) specified criteria, occurring at any time in the same 12-month period. This definition is also applicable on drugs with smaller or nonexistent physical signs of withdrawal, e.g., cannabis.

In 2001, the American Academy of Pain Medicine, the American Pain Society, and the American Society of Addiction Medicine jointly issued "Definitions Related to the Use of Opioids for the Treatment of Pain", which defined the following terms:

Addiction is a primary, chronic, neurobiologic disease, with genetic, psychosocial, and environmental factors influencing its development and manifestations. It is characterized by behaviors that include one or more of the following: impaired control over drug use, compulsive use, continued use despite harm, and craving.

Physical dependence is a state of being that is manifested by a drug class specific withdrawal syndrome that can be produced by abrupt cessation, rapid dose reduction, decreasing blood level of the drug, and/or administration of an antagonist.

Tolerance is the body's physical adaptation to a drug: greater amounts of the drug are required over time to achieve the initial effect as the body "gets used to" and adapts to the intake.

Pseudo addiction is a term which has been used to describe patient behaviors that may occur when pain is undertreated. Patients with unrelieved pain may become focused on obtaining medications, may "clock watch," and may otherwise seem inappropriately "drug seeking." Even such behaviors as illicit drug use and deception can occur in the patient's efforts to obtain relief. Pseudoaddiction can be distinguished from true addiction in that the behaviors resolve when pain is effectively treated.

A definition of ''addiction'' proposed by professor Nils Bejerot:

An emotional fixation (sentiment) acquired through learning, which intermittently or continually expresses itself in purposeful, stereotyped behavior with the character and force of a natural drive, aiming at a specific pleasure or the avoidance of a specific discomfort.

Causes

Drugs known to cause addiction include both legal and illegal drugs as well as prescription or over-the-counter drugs, according to the definition of the American Society of Addiction Medicine.

Stimulants (psychic addiction, moderate to severe; withdrawal is purely psychological and psychosomatic):

* Amphetamine and methamphetamine

* Cocaine

* Nicotine

* Caffeine

Sedatives and hypnotics (psychic addiction, mild to severe, and physiological addiction, severe; abrupt withdrawal may be fatal):

* Alcohol

* Barbiturates

* Benzodiazepines, particularly flunitrazepam, triazolam, temazepam, and nimetazepam Z- drugs like Zimovane have a similar effect in the body to Benzodiazepines.

* Methaqualone and the related quinazolinone sedative-hypnotics

Opiate and opioid analgesics (psychic addiction, mild to severe, physiological addiction, mild to severe; abrupt withdrawal is unlikely to be fatal):

* Morphine and codeine, the two naturally occurring opiate analgesics

* Semi-synthetic opiates, such as heroin (diacetylmorphine; morphine diacetate), oxycodone, buprenorphine, and hydromorphone

* Fully synthetic opioids, such as fentanyl, meperidine/pethidine, and methadone

Addictive drugs also include a large number of substrates that are currently considered to have no medical value and are not available over the counter or by prescription.

Several theories of drug addiction exist, some of the main ones being genetic predisposition, the self-medication theory, and factors involved with social/economic development. It has long been established that genetic factors along with social and psychological factors are contributors to addiction. A common theory along these lines is the self-medication hypotheses. Epidemiological studies estimate that genetic factors account for 40-60% of the risk factors for alcoholism. Similar rates of heritability for other types of drug addiction have been indicated by other studies (Kendler, 1994). Knestler hypothesized in 1964 that a gene or group of genes might contribute to predisposition to addiction in several ways. For example, altered levels of a normal protein due to environmental factors could then change the structure or functioning of specific brain circuits during development. These altered brain circuits could change the susceptibility of an individual to an initial drug use experience. In support of this hypothesis, animal studies have shown that environmental factors such as stress can affect an animal's genotype.

Addictive potential

The addictive potential of a drug varies from substance to substance, and from individual to individual. Dose, frequency, pharmacokinetics of a particular substance, route of administration, and time are critical factors for developing a drug addiction.

An article in ''The Lancet'' compared the harm and addiction of 20 drugs, using a scale from 0 to 3 for physical addiction, psychological addiction, and pleasure to create a mean score for addiction. A caffeine control was not included in the study. Selected results can be seen in the chart below.

3.0 2.37 1.93 2.23 2.01 1.83 1.67 1.47 1.23 1.13

Drug !! Mean !! Pleasure !! Psychological Dependence !! Physical Dependence
Heroin	3.00	|	3.0	3.0
Cocaine	|	3.0	2.8	1.3
Alcohol	|	2.3	1.9	1.6
Tobacco	|	2.3	2.6	1.8
Barbiturates	|	2.0	2.2	1.8
Benzodiazepines	|	1.7	2.1	1.8
Amphetamine	|	2.0	1.9	1.1
Cannabis	|	1.9	1.7	0.8
LSD	|	2.2	1.1	0.3
Ecstasy (drug)	Ecstasy	|	1.5	1.2	0.7

Self-medication hypotheses

Espoused by both psychoanalysts and biological researchers, self-medication hypotheses predict that certain individuals abuse drugs in an attempt to self-medicate their unique and seemingly intolerable states of mind. The self-medication theory has a long history. Freud in 1884, first raised this concept in noting the anti-depressing properties of cocaine. Stress has long been recognized as a major contributor for drug cravings and relapse and is therefore supportive of the self-medication theory. In line with this theory, a person's use of a particular drug of choice is not an accident, but rather it is chosen for its pharmacological effect in relieving stressful symptoms or unwanted feelings. Research has shown that people who survive disasters are prone to stress-related disorders such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression. People who experience major trauma in their life experiences may self-medicate with alcohol or other drugs to relieve the symptoms of PTSD and depression.

Social development

Social development and adjustment factors also play a role in drug abuse and addiction. An assumption of the developmental perspective, as mentioned by Thornberry 1987, is that the course of one's life is a process in which life circumstances change, milestones are met or missed and new social roles are created while old ones are abandoned. There are well known and widely accepted norms about when certain developmental events should happen in a person's life. Studies of the social factors involved in drug use have mostly focused either on adolescence or young adulthood, but surprisingly a significant amount of cocaine users may not initiate use until middle adulthood. The majority of people enter into adult social roles on schedule. However, some people enter these roles earlier or later than their same-age peers. The developmental perspective predicts that this will lead to less than satisfactory adjustment and possibly negative consequences including drug and alcohol dependence

Pathophysiology

Researchers have conducted numerous investigations using animal models and functional brain imaging on humans in order to define the mechanisms underlying drug addiction in the brain. This intriguing topic incorporates several areas of the brain and synaptic changes, or neuroplasticity, which occurs in these areas.

Acute effects

Acute (or recreational) use of most psychoactive drugs causes the release and prolonged action of dopamine and serotonin within the reward circuit. Different types of drugs produce these effects by different methods. Dopamine (DA) appears to harbor the largest effect and its action is characterized. DA binds to the D1 receptor, triggering a signaling cascade within the cell. cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) phosphorylates cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), a transcription factor, which induces the transcription of certain genes including C-Fos.

Reward circuit

When examining the biological basis of drug addiction, one must first understand the pathways in which drugs act and how drugs can alter those pathways. The reward circuit, also referred to as the mesolimbic system, is characterized by the interaction of several areas of the brain. The ventral tegmental area (VTA) consists of dopaminergic neurons which respond to glutamate. These cells respond when stimuli indicative of a reward are present. The VTA supports learning and sensitization development and releases dopamine (DA) into the forebrain. These neurons also project and release DA into the nucleus accubens, through the mesolimbic pathway. Virtually all drugs causing drug addiction increase the dopamine release in the mesolimbic pathway, in addition to their specific effects. The nucleus accumbens (NAc) consists mainly of medium-spiny projection neurons (MSNs), which are GABA neurons. The NAcc is associated with acquiring and eliciting conditioned behaviors and involved in the increased sensitivity to drugs as addiction progresses. The prefrontal cortex, more specifically the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortices, is important for the integration of information which contributes to whether a behavior will be elicited. It appears to be the area in which motivation originates and the salience of stimuli are determined. The basolateral amygdala projects into the NAcc and is thought to be important for motivation as well. More evidence is pointing towards the role of the hippocampus in drug addiction because of its importance in learning and memory. Much of this evidence stems from investigations manipulating cells in the hippocampus alters dopamine levels in NAcc and firing rates of VTA dopaminergic cells.

Role of dopamine

Nearly all addictive drugs, directly or indirectly, act upon the brain’s reward system by flooding the circuit with dopamine. As a person continues to overstimulate the “reward circuit”, the brain adapts to the overwhelming surges in dopamine by producing less of the hormones or by reducing the number of receptors in the reward circuit. As a result, the chemical’s impact on the reward circuit is lessened, reducing the drug-abuser’s ability to enjoy the things that previously brought pleasure. This decrease compels those addicted to the dopaminergenic-effect of the drug, to increase the drug consumption in order to re-create the earlier or initial experiences and to bring their "feel-good" hormone level back to normal —an effect known as tolerance. Development of dopamine tolerance can eventually lead to profound changes in neurons and brain circuits, with the potential to severely compromise the long-term health and functioning of a person's brain. Modern antipsychotics are designed to block dopamine function. Unfortunately, this blocking can also cause relapses into depression, and increases in addictive behaviors.

Stress response

In addition to the reward circuit, it is hypothesized that stress mechanisms also play a role in addiction. Koob and Kreek have hypothesized that during drug use, the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) activates the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA) and other stress systems in the extended amygdala. This activation influences the dysregulated emotional state associated with drug addiction. They have found that as drug use escalates, so does the presence of CRF in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). In rat models, the separate use of CRF antagonists and CRF receptor antagonists both decreased self-administration of the drug of study. Other studies in this review showed a dysregulation in other hormones associated with the HPA axis, including enkephalin which is an endogenous opioid peptide that regulates pain. It also appears that the µ-opioid receptor system, which enkephalin acts on, is influential in the reward system and can regulate the expression of stress hormones.

Behavior

Understanding how learning and behavior work in the reward circuit can help understand the action of addictive drugs. Drug addiction is characterized by strong, drug seeking behaviors in which the addict persistently craves and seeks out drugs, despite the knowledge of harmful consequences. Addictive drugs produce a reward, which is the euphoric feeling resulting from sustained dopamine concentrations in the synaptic cleft of neurons in the brain. Operant conditioning is exhibited in drug addicts as well as laboratory mice, rats, and primates; they are able to associate an action or behavior, in this case seeking out the drug, with a reward, which is the effect of the drug. Evidence shows that this behavior is most likely a result of the synaptic changes which have occurred due to repeated drug exposure. The drug seeking behavior is induced by glutamatergic projections from the prefrontal cortex to the NAc. This idea is supported with data from experiments showing the drug seeking behavior can be prevented following the inhibition of AMPA glutamate receptors and glutamate release in the NAc.

Allostasis

Allostasis is the process of achieving stability through changes in behavior as well as physiological features. As a person progresses into drug addiction, he or she appears to enter a new allostatic state, defined as divergence from normal levels of change which persist in a chronic state. Addiction to drugs can cause damage to a brain and body as an organism enters the pathological state; the cost stemming from damage is known as allostatic load. The dysregulation of allostasis gradually occurs as the reward from the drug decreases and the ability to overcome the depressed state following drug use begins to decrease as well. The resulting allostatic load creates a constant state of depression relative to normal allostatic changes. What pushes this decrease is the propensity of drug users to take the drug before the brain and body have returned to original allostatic levels, producing a constant state of stress. Therefore, the presence of environmental stressors may induce stronger drug seeking behaviors.

Neuroplasticity

Neuroplasticity is the putative mechanism behind learning and memory. It involves physical changes in the synapses between two communicating neurons, characterized by increased gene expression, altered cell signaling, and the formation of new synapses between the communicating neurons. When addictive drugs are present in the system, they appear to hijack this mechanism in the reward system so that motivation is geared towards procuring the drug rather than natural rewards. Depending on the history of drug use, excitatory synapses in the nucleus accumbens(NAc) experience two types of neuroplasticity: long-term potentiation (LTP) and long-term depression (LTD). Using mice as a model, Kourrich et al. showed that chronic exposure to cocaine increases the strength of synapses in NAc after a 10-14 day withdrawal period, while strengthened Synapses did not appear within a 24 hour withdrawal period after repeated cocaine exposure. A single dose of cocaine did not elicit any attributes of a strengthened synapse. When drug-experienced mice were challenged with one dose of cocaine, synaptic depression occurred. Therefore, it seems the history of cocaine exposure along with withdrawal times affects the direction of glutamatergic plasticity in the NAc.

Once a person has transitioned from drug use to addiction, behavior becomes completely geared towards seeking the drug, even though addicts report the euphoria is not as intense as it once was. Despite the differing actions of drugs during acute use, the final pathway of addiction is the same. Another aspect of drug addiction is a decreased response to normal biological stimuli, such as food, sex, and social interaction. Through functional brain imaging of patients addicted to cocaine, scientists have been able to visualize increased metabolic activity in the anterior cingulate and orbitofrontal cortex (areas of the prefrontal cortex) in the brain of these subjects. The hyperactivity of these areas of the brain in addicted subjects is involved in the more intense motivation to find the drug rather than seeking natural rewards, as well as an addict's decreased ability to overcome this urge. Brain imaging has also shown cocaine-addicted subjects to have decreased activity, as compared to non-addicts, in their prefrontal cortex when presented with stimuli associated with natural rewards. The transition from recreational drug use to addiction occurs in gradual stages and is produced by the effect of the drug of choice on the neuroplasticity of the neurons found in the reward circuit. During events preceding addiction, cravings are produced by the release of dopamine (DA) in the prefrontal cortex. As a person transitions from drug use to addiction, the release of DA in the NAc becomes unnecessary to produce cravings; rather, DA transmission decreases while increased metabolic activity in the orbitofrontal cortex contributes to cravings. At this time a person may experience the signs of depression if cocaine is not used. Before a person becomes addicted and exhibits drug-seeking behavior, there is a time period in which the neuroplasticity is reversible. Addiction occurs when drug-seeking behavior is exhibited and the vulnerability to relapse persists, despite prolonged withdrawal; these behavioral attributes are the result of neuroplastic changes which are brought about by repeated exposure to drugs and are relatively permanent.

The exact mechanism behind a drug molecule's effect on synaptic plasticity is still unclear. However, neuroplasticity in glutamatergic projections seems to be a major result of repeated drug exposure. This type of synaptic plasticity results in LTP, which strengthens connections between two neurons; onset of this occurs quickly and the result is constant. In addition to glutamatergic neurons, dopaminergic neurons present in the VTA respond to glutamate and may be recruited earliest during neural adaptations caused by repeated drug exposure. As shown by Kourrich, et al., history of drug exposure and the time of withdrawal from last exposure appear to play an important role in the direction of plasticity in the neurons of the reward system.

An aspect of neuron development that may also play a part in drug-induced neuroplasticity is the presence of axon guidance molecules such as semaphorins and ephrins. After repeated cocaine treatment, altered expression (increase or decrease dependent on the type of molecule) of mRNA coding for axon guidance molecules occurred in rats. This may contribute to the alterations in the reward circuit characteristic of drug addiction.

Neurogenesis

Drug addiction also raises the issue of potential harmful effects on the development of new neurons in adults. Eisch and Harburg raise three new concepts they have extrapolated from the numerous recent studies on drug addiction. First, neurogenesis decreases as a result of repeated exposure to addictive drugs. A list of studies show that chronic use of opiates, psychostimulants, nicotine, and alcohol decrease neurogenesis in mice and rats. Second, this apparent decrease in neurogenesis seems to be independent of HPA axis activation. Other environmental factors other than drug exposure such as age, stress and exercise, can also have an effect on neurogenesis by regulating the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Mounting evidence suggests this for 3 reasons: small doses of opiates and psychostimulants increase coricosterone concentration in serum but with no effect of neurogenesis; although decreased neurogenesis is similar between self-administered and forced drug intake, activation of HPA axis is greater in self-administration subjects; and even after the inhibition of opiate induced increase of corticosterone, a decrease in neurogenesis occurred. These, of course, need to be investigated further. Last, addictive drugs appear to only affect proliferation in the subgranular zone (SGZ), rather than other areas associated with neurogenesis. The studies of drug use and neurogenesis may have implications on stem cell biology.

===Psychological drug tolerance=== The reward system is partly responsible for the psychological part of drug tolerance.

The CREB protein, a transcription factor activated by cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) immediately after a high, triggers genes that produce proteins such as dynorphin, which cuts off dopamine release and temporarily inhibits the reward circuit. In chronic drug users, a sustained activation of CREB thus forces a larger dose to be taken to reach the same effect. In addition it leaves the user feeling generally depressed and dissatisfied, and unable to find pleasure in previously enjoyable activities, often leading to a return to the drug for an additional "fix".

A similar mechanism, interfering also with the dopamine system, but relying on a different transcription factor, CEBPB, has also been proposed. In this case dopamine release onto the nucleus accumbens neurons would trigger the increased synthesis of substance P which, in turn, would increase the dopamine synthesis in the VTA. The effect of this positive feedback is suggested to be dampened by repeated substance abuse.

===Sensitization=== Sensitization is the increase in sensitivity to a drug after prolonged use. The proteins delta FosB and regulator of G-protein Signaling 9-2 (RGS9-2) are thought to be involved:

A transcription factor, known as delta FosB, is thought to activate genes that, counter to the effects of CREB, actually increase the user's sensitivity to the effects of the substance. Delta FosB slowly builds up with each exposure to the drug and remains activated for weeks after the last exposure—long after the effects of CREB have faded. The hypersensitivity that it causes is thought to be responsible for the intense cravings associated with drug addiction, and is often extended to even the peripheral cues of drug use, such as related behaviors or the sight of drug paraphernalia. There is some evidence that delta FosB even causes structural changes within the nucleus accumbens, which presumably helps to perpetuate the cravings, and may be responsible for the high incidence of relapses that occur in treated drug addicts.

Regulator of G-protein Signaling 9-2 (RGS9-2) has recently been the subject of several animal knockout studies. Animals lacking RGS9-2 appear to have increased sensitivity to dopamine receptor agonists such as cocaine and amphetamines; over-expression of RGS9-2 causes a lack of responsiveness to these same agonists. RGS9-2 is believed to catalyze inactivation of the G-protein coupled D2 receptor by enhancing the rate of GTP hydrolysis of the G alpha subunit which transmits signals into the interior of the cell.

Individual mechanisms of effect

The basic mechanisms by which different substances activate the reward system are as described above, but vary slightly among drug classes.

;Depressants Depressants such as alcohol, barbiturates, and benzodiazepines work by increasing the affinity of the GABA receptor for its ligand; GABA. Narcotics such as morphine and heroin work by mimicking endorphins—chemicals produced naturally by the body which have effects similar to dopamine—or by disabling the neurons that normally inhibit the release of dopamine in the reward system. These substances (sometimes called "downers") typically facilitate relaxation and pain relief.

;Stimulants Stimulants such as amphetamines, nicotine, and cocaine increase dopamine signaling in the reward system either by directly stimulating its release, or by blocking its absorption (see "Reuptake"). These substances (sometimes called "uppers") typically cause heightened alertness and energy. They cause a pleasant feeling in the body and euphoria, known as a high. Once this high wears off, the user may feel depressed. This makes them want another dose of the drug, and can worsen the addiction.

Management

Addiction is a complex but treatable condition. It is characterized by compulsive drug craving, seeking, and use that persist even in the face of severe adverse consequences. For most people, addiction becomes chronic, with relapses possible even after long periods of abstinence. As a chronic, recurring illness, addiction may require continued treatments to increase the intervals between relapses and diminish their intensity. Through treatment tailored to individual needs, people with drug addiction can recover and lead fulfilling lives. The ultimate goal of addiction treatment is to enable an individual to achieve lasting abstinence, but the immediate goals are to reduce substance abuse, improve the patient's ability to function, and minimize the medical and social complications of substance abuse and their addiction. Like people with diabetes or heart disease, people in treatment for addiction will need to change behavior to adopt a more healthful lifestyle.

Treatments for addiction vary widely according to the types of drugs involved, amount of drugs used, duration of the drug addiction, medical complications and the social needs of the individual. Determining the best type of recovery program for an addicted person depends on a number of factors, including: personality, drug(s) of choice, concept of spirituality or religion, mental or physical illness, and local availability and affordability of programs.

Many different ideas circulate regarding what is considered a "successful" outcome in the recovery from addiction. It is widely accepted that abstinence from addictive substances is a successful outcome. However, abstinence is difficult to achieve in practice. Programs that emphasize controlled drinking exist for alcohol addiction. Opiate replacement therapy has been a medical standard of treatment for opioid addiction for many years.

Treatments and attitudes toward addiction vary widely among different countries. In the USA and developing countries, the goal of treatment for drug dependence is generally total abstinence from all drugs. While ideal, this is in practice very difficult to achieve. Other countries, particularly in Europe, argue the aims of treatment for drug dependence are more complex, with treatment aims including reduction in use to the point that drug use no longer interferes with normal activities such as work and family commitments; shifting the addict away from more dangerous routes of drug administration such as injecting to safer routes such as oral administration; reduction in crime committed by drug addicts; and treatment of other comorbid conditions such as AIDS, hepatitis and mental health disorders. These kinds of outcomes can be achieved without eliminating drug use completely. Drug treatment programs in Europe often report more favourable outcomes than those in the USA because the criteria for measuring success are functional rather than abstinence-based. The supporters of programs with total abstinence from drugs as a goal stress that enabling further drug use just means prolonged drug use and risks an increase in addiction and complications from addiction.

It is, of course, sometimes difficult to convince people with substance dependencies to engage in any form of treatment. Family Interventions have been highly successful in helping these people accept help they need.

Residential

Residential drug treatment can be broadly divided into two camps: 12 step programs or Therapeutic Communities. 12 step programs have the advantage of coming with an instant social support network, though some find the spiritual context not to their taste. In the UK drug treatment is generally moving towards a more integrated approach with rehabs offering a variety of approaches. These other programs may use a Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy approach, such as SMART Recovery, that looks at the relationship between thoughts, feelings and behaviors, recognizing that a change in any of these areas can affect the whole. CBT sees addiction as a behavior rather than a disease and subsequently curable, or rather, unlearnable. CBT programs recognize that for some individuals controlled use is a more realistic possibility.

One of many recovery methods is the 12 step recovery program, with prominent examples including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Drug Addicts Anonymous and Pills Anonymous. They are commonly known and used for a variety of addictions for the individual addicted and the family of the individual. Substance-abuse rehabilitation (or "rehab") centers frequently offer a residential treatment program for the seriously addicted in order to isolate the patient from drugs and interactions with other users and dealers. Outpatient clinics usually offer a combination of individual counseling and group counseling. Frequently a physician or psychiatrist will assist, with prescriptions, the side effects of the addiction. Medications can help immensely with anxiety and insomnia, can treat underlying mental disorders (cf. Self-medication hypothesis, Khantzian 1997) such as (manic-)depression, and can help reduce or eliminate withdrawal symptomology when withdrawing from physiologically addictive drugs. Some examples are using benzodiazepines for alcohol detoxification, which prevents delirium tremens and complications; using a slow taper of benzodiazepines or a taper of phenobarbital, sometimes including another antiepileptic agent such as gabapentin, pregabalin, or valproate, for withdrawal from barbiturates or benzodiazepines; using drugs such as baclofen to reduce cravings and propensity for relapse amongst addicts to any drug, especially effective in stimulant users, and alcoholics (in which it is nearly as effective as benzodiazepines in preventing complications); using clonidine, a benzodiazepine, and loperamide for opioid detoxification, for first-time users or those who wish to attempt an abstinence-based recovery (90% of opioid users relapse to active addiction within 8 months and/or are "multiple relapse patients"); or replacing an opioid that is interfering with or destructive to a user's life, such as illicitly-obtained heroin, Dilaudid, or oxycodone, with an opioid that can be administered legally, reduces or eliminates drug cravings, and does not produce a high, such as methadone or buprenorphine - opioid replacement therapy - which is the gold standard for treatment of opioid dependence in developed countries, reducing the risk and cost to both user and society more effectively than any other treatment modality (for opioid dependence), and shows the best short-term and long-term gains for the user, with the greatest longevity, least risk of fatality, greatest quality of life, and lowest risk of relapse and/or legal issues including arrest and incarceration.

In a survey of treatment providers from three separate institutions (the National Association of Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors, Rational Recovery Systems and the Society of Psychologists in Addictive Behaviors) measuring the treatment provider's responses on the Spiritual Belief Scale (a scale measuring belief in the four spiritual characteristics AA identified by Ernest Kurtz); the scores were found to explain 41% of the variance in the treatment provider's responses on the Addiction Belief Scale (a scale measuring adherence to the disease model or the free-will model addiction).

Anti-addictive drugs

Other forms of treatment include replacement drugs such as suboxone/subutex (both containing the active ingredient buprenorphine),and methadone, are all used as substitutes for illicit opiate drugs. Although these drugs perpetuate physical dependence, the goal of opiate maintenance is to provide a clinically supervised, stable dose of a particular opioid in order to provide a measure of control to both pain and cravings. This provides a chance for the addict to function normally and to reduce the negative consequences associated with obtaining sufficient quantities of controlled substances illicitly, by both reducing opioid cravings and withdrawal symptomology. Once a prescribed dosage is stabilized, treatment enters maintenance or tapering phases. In the United States, opiate replacement therapy is tightly regulated in methadone clinics and under the DATA 2000 legislation. In some countries, other opioid derivatives such as levomethadyl acetate, dihydrocodeine, dihydroetorphine and even heroin are used as substitute drugs for illegal street opiates, with different drugs being used depending on the needs of the individual patient. Baclofen has been shown successful in attenuating cravings for most drugs of abuse - stimulants, ethanol, and opioids - and also attenuates the actual withdrawal syndrome of ethanol. Many patients have stated they "became indifferent to alcohol" or "indifferent to cocaine" overnight after starting baclofen therapy. It is possible that one of the best, albeit relatively unexplored, treatment modalities for opioid addiction - notoriously the most difficult addiction to treat (and to recover from), having relapse rates of around 60% at four weeks and 97% at twelve months if not on maintenance therapy with a mu-opioid agonist and clomethiazole to treat alcohol addiction. Bromocriptine and desipramine have been reported to be effective for treatment of cocaine but not amphetamine addiction.

Other pharmacological treatments for alcohol addiction include drugs like naltrexone, disulfiram, acamprosate and topiramate, but rather than substituting for alcohol, these drugs are intended to reduce the desire to drink, either by directly reducing cravings as with acamprosate and topiramate, or by producing unpleasant effects when alcohol is consumed, as with disulfiram. These drugs can be effective if treatment is maintained, but compliance can be an issue as alcoholic patients often forget to take their medication, or discontinue use because of excessive side effects. Additional drugs acting on glutamate neurotransmission such as modafinil, lamotrigine, gabapentin and memantine have also been proposed for use in treating addiction to alcohol and other drugs.

Opioid antagonists such as naltrexone and nalmefene have also been used successfully in the treatment of alcohol addiction, which is often particularly challenging to treat. Some have also attempted to use these drugs for maintenance treatment of former opiate addicts with little success. They cannot be started until the patient has been abstinent for an extended period - unlikely with opioid addicts who are not on maintenance with a full or partial mu-opioid agonist - or they will trigger acute opioid withdrawal symptoms. No study has found them to be efficacious treatments in preventing relapse. They do nothing to block craving, and block endorphin and enkephalin, two natural neurotransmitters that regulate one's sense of well-being. An addict must discontinue the drug for just eighteen hours in order to use again.

Treatment of stimulant addiction can often be difficult, with substitute drugs often being ineffective, although newer drugs such as nocaine, vanoxerine and modafinil may have more promise in this area, as well as the GABA_B agonist baclofen. Another strategy that has recently been successfully trialled used a combination of the benzodiazepine antagonist flumazenil with hydroxyzine and gabapentin for the treatment of methamphetamine addiction.

Another area in which drug treatment has been widely used is in the treatment of nicotine addiction. Various drugs have been used for this purpose such as bupropion, mecamylamine and the more recently developed varenicline. The cannaboinoid antagonist rimonabant has also been trialled for treatment of nicotine addiction but has not been widely adopted for this purpose.

Ibogaine is a hallucinogen (psychotomimetic) that some claim interrupts addiction and reduces or eliminates withdrawal syndromes, specifically in regards to opioids. Its mechanism of action is unknown, but likely linked to nAchR α3ß4 antagonism. In one animal trial, it was shown to slightly reduce self-administration of cocaine. Another uncontrolled trial showed it reduced tremor by a mild to moderate degree during morphine withdrawal in rats. These finding can not be extrapolated to human beings with any certainty. Research is complicated by the fact that ibogaine is illegal in many developed countries, and a Schedule I substance in the US, and as a result no controlled human trials have ever been performed. A semi-synthetic analogue of ibogaine, 18-methoxycoronaridine was developed, in an attempt to reduce the toxic (ibogaine is significantly cardiotoxic, and several deaths have been reported from its use; because of its illegal, underground nature, it is impossible to know how toxic the drug is) and psychotomimetic effects of the drug.

Behavioral programming

Behavioral programming is considered critical to helping those with addictions achieve abstinence. From the applied behavior analysis literature and the behavioral psychology literature several evidenced based intervention programs have emerged (1) behavioral maritial therapy; (2) community reinforcement approach; (3) cue exposure therapy; and (4) contingency management strategies. In addition, the same author suggest that Social skills training adjunctive to inpatient treatment of alcohol dependence is probably efficacious. Community reinforcement has both efficacy and effectiveness data. In addition, behavioral treatment such as community reinforcement and family training (CRAFT) have helped family members to get their loved ones into treatment.

Alternative therapies

Alternative therapies, such as acupuncture, are used by some practitioners to alleviate the symptoms of drug addiction. In 1997, the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted as policy the following statement after a report on a number of alternative therapies including acupuncture:

There is little evidence to confirm the safety or efficacy of most alternative therapies. Much of the information currently known about these therapies makes it clear that many have not been shown to be efficacious. Well-designed, stringently controlled research should be done to evaluate the efficacy of alternative therapies.

Acupuncture has been shown to be no more effective than control treatments in the treatment of opiate dependence. Acupuncture, acupressure, laser therapy and electrostimulation have no demonstrated efficacy for smoking cessation.

Epidemiology

thumb|Disability-adjusted life year for drug use disorders per 100,000 inhabitants in 2002. The most common drug addictions are to legal substances such as:

Nicotine in the form of tobacco, particularly cigarettes

Alcohol

Caffeine

History

The phenomenon of drug addiction has occurred to some degree throughout recorded history (see "Opium"). Modern agricultural practices, improvements in access to drugs, advancements in biochemistry, and dramatic increases in the recommendation of drug usage by clinical practitioners have exacerbated the problem significantly in the 20th century. Improved means of active biological agent manufacture and the introduction of synthetic compounds, such as methamphetamine are also factors contributing to drug addiction.

Society and culture

Legislation

Depending on the jurisdiction, addictive drugs may be legal only as part of a government sponsored study, illegal to use for any purpose, illegal to sell, or even illegal to merely possess.

Most countries have legislation which brings various drugs and drug-like substances under the control of licensing systems. Typically this legislation covers any or all of the opiates, amphetamines, cannabinoids, cocaine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, anesthetics, hallucinogenics, derivatives and a variety of more modern synthetic drugs. Unlicensed production, supply or possession is a criminal offence.

Usually, however, drug classification under such legislation is not related simply to addictiveness. The substances covered often have very different addictive properties. Some are highly prone to cause physical dependency, while others rarely cause any form of compulsive need whatsoever. Also, under legislation specifically about drugs, alcohol, caffeine and nicotine are not usually included.

Although the legislation may be justifiable on moral or public health grounds, it can make addiction or dependency a much more serious issue for the individual: reliable supplies of a drug become difficult to secure, and the individual becomes vulnerable to both criminal abuse and legal punishment.

It is unclear whether laws against illegal drug use do anything to stem usage and dependency. In jurisdictions where addictive drugs are illegal, they are generally supplied by drug dealers, who are often involved with organized crime. Even though the cost of producing most illegal addictive substances is very low, their illegality combined with the addict's need permits the seller to command a premium price, often hundreds of times the production cost. As a result, addicts sometimes turn to crime to support their habit.

See also

Addictive personality

Drug and Alcohol Dependence (journal)

Physical dependence

Risk factors in pregnancy

Self medication

Substance abuse

;Questionnaires

Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test

CAGE questionnaire

CRAFFT Screening Test

Paddington Alcohol Test

Severity of Alcohol Dependence Questionnaire

References

External links

American Society of Addiction Medicine website

Category:Substance dependence

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Coordinates	2°31′″N101°48′″N
Name	Charlie Sheen
Birth name	Carlos Irwin Estevez
Birth date	September 03, 1965
Birth place	New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1974–present
Spouse	Donna Peele (1995–1996)Denise Richards (2002–2006)Brooke Mueller (2008–2011)
Parents	Martin Sheen Janet Templeton
Relatives	Emilio Estevez Ramon Estevez Renée Estevez
Children	5
Website	}}

Carlos Irwin Estevez (born September 3, 1965), better known by his stage name Charlie Sheen, is an American film and television actor. He is the youngest son of actor Martin Sheen.

His character roles in films have included Chris Taylor in the 1986 Vietnam War drama ''Platoon'', Jake Kesey in the 1986 film ''The Wraith,'' and Bud Fox in the 1987 film ''Wall Street''. His career has also included more comedic films such as ''Major League'', the ''Hot Shots!'' films, and ''Scary Movie 3'' and ''Scary Movie 4''. On television, Sheen is known for his roles on two sitcoms: as Charlie Crawford on ''Spin City'' and as Charlie Harper on ''Two and a Half Men''. In 2010, Sheen was the highest paid actor on television, earning US$1.8 million per episode of ''Two and a Half Men''.

Early life

Sheen was born Carlos Irwin Estevez in New York City, the youngest son and third of four children of actor Martin Sheen and artist Janet Templeton. His paternal grandparents were immigrants from Galicia (northwestern Spain) and Ireland. Sheen has two older brothers, Emilio Estevez and Ramon Estevez, and a younger sister, Renée Estevez, all actors. His parents moved to Malibu, California, after Martin's Broadway turn in ''The Subject Was Roses''. His first movie appearance was at age nine in his father’s 1974 film ''The Execution of Private Slovik''. Sheen attended Santa Monica High School in Santa Monica, California, where he was a star pitcher and shortstop for the baseball team.

At Santa Monica High School, he showed an early interest in acting, making amateur Super 8 films with his brother Emilio and school friends Rob Lowe and Sean Penn under his birth name. A few weeks before graduation, Sheen was expelled from school for poor grades and attendance. Deciding to become an actor, he took the stage name Charlie Sheen. His father had adopted it in honor of the Catholic archbishop and theologian Fulton J. Sheen.

Acting career

Film

Sheen's film career began in 1984 with a role in the Cold War teen drama ''Red Dawn'' with Patrick Swayze, C. Thomas Howell, Lea Thompson, and Jennifer Grey. Sheen and Grey reunited in a small scene in ''Ferris Bueller's Day Off'' (1986). He also appeared in an episode of the anthology series ''Amazing Stories''. Sheen had his first major role in the Vietnam War drama ''Platoon'' (1986). In 1987, he starred with his father in ''Wall Street''. Both ''Wall Street'' and ''Platoon'' were directed by Oliver Stone. In 1988, Stone asked Sheen to star in his new film ''Born on the Fourth of July'' (1989), but later cast Tom Cruise instead. Sheen was never notified by Stone, and only found out when he heard the news from his brother Emilio. Sheen did not take a lead role in Stone's subsequent films, although he did have a cameo role in ''Money Never Sleeps''.

In 1987, Sheen was cast to portray Ron in the unreleased ''Grizzly II: The Predator'', the sequel to the 1976 low budget horror movie ''Grizzly''. In 1988, he starred in the baseball film ''Eight Men Out'' as outfielder Happy Felsch. Also in 1988, he appeared opposite his brother Emilio in ''Young Guns'' and again in 1990 in ''Men at Work''. In 1989, Sheen, John Fusco, Christopher Cain, Lou Diamond Phillips, Emilio Estévez and Kiefer Sutherland were honored with a Bronze Wrangler for their work on the film ''Young Guns''.

In 1990, he starred alongside his father in ''Cadence'' as a rebellious inmate in a military stockade and with Clint Eastwood in the buddy cop action film ''The Rookie''. The films were directed by Martin Sheen and Eastwood, respectively. In 1992, he starred in ''Beyond the Law'' with Linda Fiorentino and Michael Madsen. In 1994, Sheen was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 1997, Sheen wrote his first movie, ''Discovery Mars'', a direct-to-video documentary revolving around the question, "Is There Life on Mars?". The next year, Sheen wrote, produced and starred in the action movie ''No Code of Conduct''.

Sheen appeared in several comedy roles, including the ''Major League'' films, ''Money Talks'', and the spoof ''Hot Shots!'' films. In 1999, Sheen appeared in a pilot for A&E; Network, called ''Sugar Hill'', which was not picked up. In 1999, Sheen played himself in ''Being John Malkovich''. He also appeared in the spoof series ''Scary Movie 3'' and follow up ''Scary Movie 4''.

Sheen appears as Dex Dogtective in the unreleased Lionsgate animated comedy ''Foodfight''.

Television

In 2000, Sheen debuted on the small screen when he replaced Michael J. Fox for the last two seasons of the sitcom ''Spin City''. For his work on ''Spin City'', Sheen was nominated for two ALMA Awards and won his first Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy. The series ended in 2002.

In 2003, Sheen was cast as Charlie Harper in the CBS sitcom ''Two and a Half Men'', which followed the popular Monday night time slot of ''Everybody Loves Raymond''. Sheen's role on ''Two and a Half Men'' was loosely based on Sheen's bad boy image. The role garnered him an ALMA Award and he gained three Emmy Award nominations and two Golden Globe award nominations. During his eighth and final season on the show, Sheen earned a record $1.8 million per episode.

Warner Bros. dismissal

In January 2011, production of ''Two and a Half Men'' went on hiatus while Sheen underwent a substance rehabilitation program in his home, his third attempt at rehab in twelve months. The following month, however, CBS canceled the season's four remaining episodes after Sheen publicly made derogatory comments about the series' creator, Chuck Lorre, and Warner Bros. officially banned Sheen from entering its production lot. Sheen, already the highest-paid actor on television, claiming that in comparison to the amount that the series was making, he was "underpaid."

CBS and Warner Bros. fired Sheen from ''Two and a Half Men'' on March 7, 2011. He was replaced by Ashton Kutcher. In the aftermath of his dismissal, Sheen remained vocally critical of Chuck Lorre, and filed a wrongful termination lawsuit against Lorre and Warner Bros., which was settled the following September 26. That same month, Sheen, while presenting an award at the Primetime Emmy Awards, addressed "everybody here from ''Two and a Half Men''" and stated, "From the bottom of my heart, I wish you nothing but the best for this upcoming season. We spent eight wonderful years together and I know you will continue to make great television."

Other

On September 19, 2011, Sheen was roasted on Comedy Central. It was watched by 6.4 million people, making it the highest rated roast on Comedy Central to date.

Other ventures

In 2006, Sheen launched a clothing line for kids, called Sheen Kidz.

In 2011, Sheen set a new Guinness World Record for Twitter as the "Fastest Time to Reach 1 Million Followers" (adding an average of 129,000 new followers per day) as well as the Guinness record for "Highest Paid TV Actor Per Episode – Current" at $1.25 million while he was a part of the cast of ''Two and a Half Men'' sitcom. On March 3, 2011, Charlie Sheen signed with Ad.ly marketing agency specializing in Twitter and Facebook promotions.

On March 10, 2011, Sheen announced a nationwide tour, "My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not An Option", which began in Detroit on April 2. The tour sold out in 18 minutes, a Ticketmaster record. However, on April 1, 2011 the Detroit Free Press featured an article that stated as of March 30 that there were over 1000 tickets available from a third-party reseller, some at 15% less than the cheapest seats sold at the Fox Theater. ''The Huffington Post'' reports Sheen will earn $1 million this year from Twitter endorsements and $7 million from the North American tour. Many of those attending the April 2 performance in Detroit found it disappointing; the subsequent performance in Chicago, which featured some adjustments, received a more positive reception.

Sheen has taken up a new business venture as a partner in a line of electronic cigarettes. The "NicoSheen" product will feature the actor's signature smirk on packages of disposable E-cigarettes and related products.

On August 13, 2011, Sheen appeared as a host at the 12th annual Gathering of the Juggalos. He received a mixed reaction from the audience. Some cheered him, and some booed and threw things at him.

Personal life

Family and relationships

Sheen has been married three times and has five children. His first daughter, Cassandra Jade Estevez (b. December 12, 1984) was born to his former high school girlfriend, Paula Profit.

In 1990, Sheen accidentally shot his fiancee, Kelly Preston, in the arm. Preston broke off the engagement soon after.

In the 1990s, Sheen dated a number of adult film actresses, including Ginger Lynn and Heather Hunter.

On September 3, 1995, Sheen married Donna Peele. That same year, Sheen was named as one of the clients of an escort agency operated by Heidi Fleiss. Sheen and Peele divorced in 1996.

On June 15, 2002, two years after they met on the set of the movie ''Good Advice'', Sheen married actress Denise Richards. They have two daughters, Sam and Lola Sheen. In March 2005, Richards filed for divorce, accusing Sheen of alcohol and drug abuse and threats of violence. The divorce was finalized in November 2006 and preceded a custody dispute over their two daughters.

On May 30, 2008, Sheen married Brooke Mueller, who later gave birth to their twin sons, Bob and Max. In November 2010, Sheen filed for divorce. On March 1, 2011, police removed Bob and Max from Sheen's home. Sheen told NBC's ''Today'', "I stayed very calm and focused." According to ''People'', social services took the children after Mueller obtained a restraining order against Sheen. The document said, "I am very concerned that [Sheen] is currently insane." Asked if he would fight for the children, Sheen texted ''People'', "Born ready. Winning." Sheen and Mueller's divorce became final on May 2, 2011.

On March 1, 2011, Sheen was concurrently living with pornographic actress Rachel Oberlin and model and graphic designer Natalie Kenly, whom he collectively nicknamed his "goddesses". Oberlin left Sheen in April 2011, and Kenly left in June 2011.

Substance abuse and legal issues

On May 20, 1998, Sheen overdosed while using cocaine and was hospitalized. On August 11, 1998, Sheen, already on probation for a previous drug offense, had his probation extended for an extra year and entered a rehab clinic. In a 2004 interview, Sheen admitted that the overdose was caused by his experimentation with injecting cocaine.

On December 25, 2009, Sheen was arrested for assaulting his wife, Brooke Mueller. He was released the same day from jail after posting an $8,500 bond. Sheen was charged with felony menacing, as well as third-degree assault and criminal mischief. On August 2, 2010, Sheen pleaded guilty to misdemeanor assault as part of a plea bargain that included dismissal of the other charges against him. Sheen was sentenced to 30 days in a drug rehab center, 30 days of probation, and 36 hours of anger management.

On October 26, 2010, the police removed Sheen from his suite at the Plaza Hotel after he reportedly caused $7,000 in damage. According to the NYPD, Sheen admitted to drinking and using cocaine the night of the incident. He was released after entering a hospital for observation.

Political views and activities

Charitable activities

Sheen was the 2004 spokesperson for the Lee National Denim Day breast cancer fundraiser that raised millions of dollars for research and education regarding the disease. Sheen stated that a friend of his died from breast cancer, and he wanted to try to help find a cure for the disease.

A major donor and supporter of Aid For AIDS since 2006, Sheen was honored with an AFA Angel Award, one of only a few ever given, at the nonprofit's 25th Silver Anniversary Reception in 2009. In addition to his financial support, he has volunteered to act as a celebrity judge for several years for their annual fundraiser, Best In Drag Show, which raises around a quarter of a million dollars each year in Los Angeles for AIDS assistance. He has brought other celebrities to support the event, including his father, actor Martin Sheen. Sheen's interest in AIDS was first reported in 1987 with his support of Ryan White, an Indiana teenager who became a national spokesperson for AIDS awareness after being infected with AIDS through a blood transfusion for his hemophilia.

On March 27, 2008, Sheen and Jenna Elfman co-hosted a New York Rescue Workers Detoxification Project charity event.

Sheen is donating one dollar from each ticket sold from his “My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not An Option Show” 2011 tour to the Red Cross Japanese Earthquake Relief Fund.

In 2011, Sheen took on a Twitter challenge by a grieving mother to help critically ill babies born with Congenital diaphragmatic hernia by supporting CHERUBS – The Association of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia Research, Awareness and Support.

September 11 attacks

On March 20, 2006, Sheen stated that he questions the U.S. Government's account of the September 11 attacks. He said during the interview that the collapse of the World Trade Center towers looked like a controlled demolition.

Sheen has since become a prominent advocate of the 9/11 Truth movement. On September 8, 2009, he appealed to President Barack Obama to set up a new investigation into the attacks. Presenting his views as a transcript of a fictional encounter with Obama, he was characterized by the press as believing the 9/11 Commission was a whitewash and that the administration of former President George W. Bush may have been responsible for the attacks.

Filmography

Films

''Money Talks'' ''Postmortem (1998 film) ''Lisa Picard is Famous'' ''Rated X (film) ''Good Advice'' ''The Making of Bret Michaels'' ''Scary Movie 3'' ''The Big Bounce (2004 film) ''Guilty Hearts'' ''Scary Movie 4'' ''Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps''

style="background:#B0C4DE;"	Year	Film	Role	Notes
1974	''The Execution of Private Slovik''	Kid at Wedding
1979	''Apocalypse Now''	Extra
	''Red Dawn''	Matt Eckert
''Silence of the Heart''	Ken Cruze
	''The Fourth Wise Man''	Captain (Herod's Soldiers)	TV-movie
	Man Shaving	CBS TV-movie
	Bo Richards
		Cappie
''Ferris Bueller's Day Off''	Garth Volbeck-Boy in Police Station
	Private Chris Taylor
''The Wraith ''	Jake Kesey
	Hamburger Restaurant Manager	Cameo
		Bud Fox
	Ted Varrick
''Three for the Road''	Paul
	Ron	Unreleasedfilmed in 1983
	''Never on Tuesday''	Thief	Uncredited Cameo
''Eight Men Out''
''Young Guns''		Bronze Wrangler Award
	''Tale of Two Sisters''	Narrator	Also writer (poems)
''Catchfire''	Bob	Cameo
		Pfc. Franklin Fairchild Bean
''Courage Mountain''	Peter
	Carl Taylor
	Lt. (j.g.) Dale Hawkins
	David Ackerman
1991	''Hot Shots!''	Lt. Sean Topper Harley
		William Patrick Steaner/Daniel "Dan" Saxon/Sid
''Oliver Stone: Inside Out''	Himself	Documentary
	''National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1''	Gern, Parking Valet
	Morgan "Fats" Gripp
''Hot Shots! Part Deux''	Lt. Sean Topper Harley
	Aramis
	''Charlie Sheen's Stunt Spectacular''	Himself	TV-movie
	Richard 'Ditch' Brodie
	Jackson Davis "Jack" Hammond	Also executive producer
''Major League II''	Ricky 'Wild Thing' Vaughn
		Barbie Loving Bartender	Cameo appearance
''Frame by Frame''
''All Dogs Go to Heaven 2''	Charles B. "Charlie" Barkin	Voice only
	Zane Zaminsky
rowspan="3"	1997	|	James Russell
''Shadow Conspiracy''	Bobby Bishop
''Bad Day on the Block''
rowspan="5"	1998	Postmortem'' ||	James McGregor
''A Letter from Death Row (film)	A Letter from Death Row''
''No Code of Conduct''	Jacob "Jake" Peterson
''Free Money (film)	Free Money''	Bud Dyerson
''Junket Whore''	Himself
rowspan="3"	1999	|	Himself
''Five Aces''	Chris Martin
''Being John Malkovich''	Himself
2000	Rated X'' ||	Artie Mitchell>Artie Jay "Art" Mitchell	Showtime (TV network)>Showtime TV-movie
rowspan="2"	2001	|	Ryan Edward Turner
''Last Party 2000''	Himself
2002	|	Himself	Documentary
2003	|	Tom Logan (character)>Tom Logan
rowspan="2"	2004	The Big Bounce'' ||	Bob Rogers Jr.
''Pauly Shore Is Dead''	Himself
2005	|	Charlie Sheen	Segment "Spelling Bee"
2006	|	Tom Logan (character)>Tom Logan	Uncredited Cameo
rowspan="2"	2010	|	Bud Fox	Uncredited Cameo
''Due Date''	Charlie Harper (Two and a Half Men)>Charlie Harper

Short films

''Comicits'' ''Deeper Than Deep'' ''Spelling Bee''

style="background:#B0C4DE;"	Year	Film	Role	Notes
1986	''A Life in the Day''
1989	|	Himself	Also producer
2003	|	Chuck Traynor>Charles "Chuck" E. Traynor
2004	|	Himself	From ''Guilty Hearts''

Television

''Friends'' ''Sugar Hill (TV pilot) ''Spin City'' ''Two and a Half Men'' ''Overhaulin''' ''The Big Bang Theory'' ''The Tonight Show with Jay Leno'' ''Lopez Tonight'' ''Family Guy'' ''Drew Carey's Improv-A-Ganza'' ''Comedy Central Roast''

style="background:#B0C4DE;"	Year	Title	Role	Notes
1986	Amazing Stories (TV series)>Amazing Stories: Book Three''
1996	|	Ryan	Friends (season 2)#ep47>"The One with the Chicken Pox"
1999	Sugar Hill'' ||	Matt	Unsold pilot
2000–2002	|	Charlie Crawford	Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2002) Nominated – ALMA Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Series (2001) Nominated – ALMA Award for Outstanding Actor in a Television Series (2002)
2003–2011	|	Charlie Harper (Two and a Half Men)>Charlie Harper	ALMA Award for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy Television Series (2008) Nominated – Kids Choice Awards for Favorite Television Actor (2002) Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series (2005) Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2005) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (2006) Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2006) Nominated – Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor: Comedy (2008) Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (2008) Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series (2009)
2006	|	Himself	Episode: "LeMama's Boy"
2008	|	Himself	List of The Big Bang Theory episodes>"The Griffin Equivalency", cameo appearance
2009	|	Himself
2009	|	Himself
2010	|	Himself	Episode: "Brian Griffin's House of Payne"
2011	|	Himself	Episode 2 (in improv game "Fairy Tale")
2011	|	Himself (Roastee)

References

External links

Charlie Sheen: Life and Times – slideshow by ''Life magazine''

Category:1965 births Category:Living people Category:20th-century actors Category:21st-century actors Category:Actors from California Category:Actors from New York City Category:American activists Category:American child actors Category:American film actors Category:American people convicted of assault Category:American people of Galician descent Category:American people of Irish descent Category:American television actors Category:American voice actors Category:Best Musical or Comedy Actor Golden Globe (television) winners Category:California Democrats Category:Estevez family Category:People from Santa Monica, California Category:People from Staten Island

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Coordinates	2°31′″N101°48′″N
Name	Lawrence Taylor
Width	200
Position	Linebacker
Number	56
Birth date	February 04, 1959
Birth place	Williamsburg, Virginia
Heightft	6
Heightin	3
Weight	241
Highschool	Lafayette High School
College	North Carolina
Draftyear	1981
Draftround	1
Draftpick	2
Debutyear	1981
Debutteam	New York Giants
Finalyear	1993
Finalteam	New York Giants
Teams	–)}}

|highlights=

Ranked 3rd by The Top 100: NFL's Greatest Players

10× Pro Bowl selection (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990)

10× All-Pro selection (1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990)

2× Super Bowl champion (XXI, XXV)

AP NFL MVP (1986)

PFWA NFL MVP (1986)

3× AP NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1981, 1982, 1986)

NEA NFL Defensive Player of the Year (1986)

2× UPI NFC Defensive Player of the Year (1983, 1986)

AP NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (1981)

Bert Bell Award (1986)

NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team

NFL 1980s All-Decade Team

New York Giants #56 retired

Member of the New York Giants Ring of Honor

|statseason=1993 |stat1label=Tackles |stat1value=1,088 |stat2label=Sacks |stat2value=142 |stat3label=Interceptions |stat3value=9 |nfl=TAY508500 |HOF=212 }} Lawrence Julius Taylor (born February 4, 1959), nicknamed "L.T.", is a Hall of Fame former American football player. Taylor played his entire professional career as a linebacker for the New York Giants in the National Football League (NFL). He is considered to be one of the greatest players in the history of football, and has been ranked as the top defensive player in league history by former players, coaches, media members, and news outlets such as the NFL Network, and ''Sporting News''.

After an All-American career at the University of North Carolina (UNC) (1978–1981), Taylor was drafted by the Giants as the second overall selection in the 1981 NFL Draft. Although controversy surrounded the selection due to Taylor's contract demands, the two sides quickly resolved the issue. Taylor won several defensive awards after his rookie season. Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Taylor was a disruptive force at outside linebacker, and is credited with changing the pass rushing schemes, offensive line play, and offensive formations used in the NFL. Taylor produced double-digit sacks each season from 1984 through 1990, including a career high of 20.5 in 1986. He also won a record three Defensive Player of the Year awards and was named the league's Most Valuable Player (MVP) for his performance during the 1986 season. He was named First-team All-Pro in each of his first nine seasons and was a key member of the Giants' defense, nicknamed "The Big Blue Wrecking Crew", that led New York to victories in Super Bowls XXI and XXV. During the 1980s Taylor, fellow linebackers Carl Banks, Gary Reasons, and Hall of Famer Harry Carson gave the Giants linebacking corps a reputation as one of the best in the NFL.

Taylor has lived a controversial lifestyle, during and after his playing career. He admitted to using drugs such as cocaine as early as his second year in the NFL, and was suspended several times by the league for failing drug tests. His drug abuse escalated after his retirement, and he was jailed three times for attempted drug possession. From 1998 to 2009, Taylor lived a sober, drug-free life. He worked as a color commentator on sporting events after his retirement, and pursued a career as an actor. His personal life came under public scrutiny in 2011 when he pleaded guilty to sexual misconduct involving a 16-year old girl.

Early life

Lawrence Taylor was the second of three sons born to Clarence and Iris Taylor in Williamsburg, Virginia. His father worked as a dispatcher at the Newport News shipyards, while his mother was a schoolteacher. Referred to as Lonnie by his family, Taylor was a mischievous youth. His mother said that "[h]e was a challenging child. Where the other two boys would ask for permission to do stuff, Lonnie...would just do it, and when you found out about it, he would give you a big story." Taylor concentrated on baseball as a youth, in which he played the position of catcher, and only began playing football at the advanced age of fifteen. He did not play organized high school football until the following year (eleventh grade), and was not heavily recruited coming out of high school.

After graduating from Lafayette High School in 1977, Taylor attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he was a team captain, and wore #98. Originally recruited as a defensive lineman, Taylor switched to linebacker before the 1979 season. He had 16 sacks in his final year there (1980), and set numerous defensive records. His awards included All-America and Atlantic Coast Conference Player of the Year honors in 1980. While there the coaching staff marveled at his intense, reckless style of play. "As a freshman playing on special teams, he'd jump a good six or seven feet in the air to block a punt, then land on the back of his neck," said North Carolina assistant coach Bobby Cale. "He was reckless, just reckless." UNC later retired Taylor's jersey, and subsequent players frequently played in his shadow.

NFL career

1981 NFL Draft and training camp

In the 1981 NFL Draft, Taylor was drafted by the NFL's New York Giants as the 2nd pick overall. In a poll of NFL General Managers (GMs) taken before the draft 26 of the league's 28 GMs said if they had the first selection they would select Taylor. One of the two GMs who said they would not take Taylor was the GM of the New Orleans Saints, who had the first pick in the draft. Giants GM George Young predicted before the draft that he would be better than NFL legends such as Dick Butkus: "Taylor is the best college linebacker I've ever seen. Sure, I saw Dick Butkus play. There's no doubt in my mind about Taylor. He's bigger and stronger than Butkus was. On the blitz, he's devastating." Controversy arose before the draft when Taylor and his agent Mike Trope expressed a desire to sign a contract for $250,000 a season, an amount unheard of for a rookie in 1981. Several players on the Giants threatened to walk out if Taylor was paid that salary, as they refused to play for less than an unproven rookie. On draft day the Saints selected George Rogers, leaving the Giants with the decision of whether to select Taylor. To the raucous approval of the crowd in attendance at the draft (which was held in New York City), the Giants selected him. Privately, Taylor was hesitant about playing for New York as had hoped to be drafted by the Dallas Cowboys, and was unimpressed with a tour of Giants Stadium he was taken on after the draft. Publicly, however, he expressed excitement about the opportunity to play in the city. The players changed their stance after he was drafted as Harry Carson made a point to reach out to him, and Taylor said he "talked to some players and coaches" and "got things straightened out." One of the factors that the Giants said they considered in selecting Taylor was his solid reputation. "He was the cleanest player in the draft. By that I mean there was no rap on him," said head coach Ray Perkins. "Great potential as a linebacker, a fine young man, free of injuries." Taylor chose to wear number 56 because he was a fan of Cowboys linebacker Thomas Henderson.

Taylor's talent was evident from the start of training camp. Reports came out of the Giants training compound of the exploits of the new phenom. Taylor's teammates took to calling him Superman and joked that his locker should be replaced with a phone booth. Phil Simms, the team's quarterback, said, "on the pass rush, he's an animal. He's either going to run around you or over you. With his quickness, he's full speed after two steps." Taylor made his NFL exhibition debut on August 8, 1981, recording 2 sacks in the Giants' 23–7 win over the Chicago Bears. Before the season word spread around the league about Taylor. Years after facing him in an exhibition game, Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Terry Bradshaw recalled, "[h]e dang-near killed me, I just kept saying, 'Who is this guy?' He kept coming from my blind side and just ripped my ribs to pieces."

Taylor developed what has been termed a "love-hate relationship" with Bill Parcells who was the team's defensive coordinator when he was drafted, and would later become their head coach. Parcells often rode players in the hopes of driving them to better performance. Taylor did not appreciate this approach, and early on told Parcells, "I've had enough. You either cut me or trade me but get the fuck off my back." Parcells kept on Taylor, but told privately told some veterans, "I like that LT. That motherfucker's got a mean streak."

Early career: 1981–1985

Taylor's NFL regular season debut occurred on September 6, 1981 in a 24–10 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. Aside from incurring a penalty for a late hit on Eagles running back Perry Harrington, Taylor played a nondescript game. In a game versus the St. Louis Cardinals later in the season, Taylor rushed and sacked the passer when he supposed to drop into coverage. When told by Parcells that was not what he was assigned to do on that play, and that what he did was not in the playbook, Taylor responded "Well, we better put it in on Monday, because that play's a dandy." He recorded 9.5 sacks in 1981, and his rookie season is considered one of the best in NFL history. He was named 1981's NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and Defensive Player of the Year, making him as of 2010 the only rookie to win DPOY. Taylor's arrival helped the Giants defense reduce their points allowed from 425 points in 1980 to 257 in 1981. They finished the season 9–7, up five games from the previous season, and advanced to the NFL divisional playoffs, where they lost 38–24 to the eventual Super Bowl champion San Francisco 49ers. The San Francisco win was due partly to a new tactic 49ers coach Bill Walsh used to slow Taylor. Walsh assigned guard John Ayers, the team's best blocker, to block Taylor and, although Taylor still recorded a sack and three tackles, he was not as effective as normal. In contrast to his on-field success Taylor was already developing a reputation for recklessness off the field; after nearly getting killed during the season when his speeding resulted in a car crash, Young told the team's trainer he would be surprised if the linebacker lived past the age of 30, and the Giants insured Taylor's life for $2 million.

The 1982 NFL season, which was shortened to nine regular season games by a players strike, included one of the more memorable plays of Taylor's career. In the nationally televised Thanksgiving Day game against the Detroit Lions the teams were tied 6–6 early in the fourth quarter, when the Lions drove deep into New York territory. Lions quarterback Gary Danielson dropped back to pass and threw the ball out to his left toward the sidelines. Taylor ran in front of the intended receiver, intercepted the pass, and returned it 97 yards for a touchdown. Taylor was again named DPOY. The Giants finished 4-5 and out of the playoffs.

After the 1982 season, Perkins became head coach of the University of Alabama and the Giants hired Parcells to replace him. In the coming years this change would prove crucial to the Giants and Taylor. Leading up to the 1983 season, Taylor engaged in a training camp holdout that lasted three weeks and ended when he came back to the team under his old contract with three games left in the preseason.

Although Taylor recorded nine sacks and made the All-Pro team for the third consecutive season in 1983, the Giants struggled. The team went 3–12–1, and Parcells received heavy criticism from fans and the media. Taylor was forced to play inside linebacker for part of the season, a position which allowed him less pass rushing opportunities, when Carson was injured. Frustrated by the losing, Taylor began acting out by arriving late for meetings, and not participating in conditioning drills in practice. After the season, Taylor was involved in a fight for his services between the Giants and the New Jersey Generals of the United States Football League. Taylor was given a $1 million interest-free, 25-year loan by Generals owner Donald Trump on December 14, 1983, with the provision that he begin playing in the USFL in 1988. Taylor regretted the decision, and less than a month later attempted to renege. The Giants were forced to negotiate with Trump to retain Taylor. The main results of these negotiations were threefold: 1) Taylor returned the $1 million to Trump, 2) the Giants paid Trump $750,000 over the next five seasons, and 3) the Giants gave Taylor a new six-year, $6.2-million-dollar contract.

The Giants' record rebounded to 9–7 in 1984, and Taylor had his fourth All-Pro season. He got off to a quick start, recording four sacks in a September game. In the playoffs the Giants defeated the Los Angeles Rams 16–13, but lost 21–10 to the eventual champion 49ers.

In contrast to the previous season the Giants headed into the 1985 season with a sense of optimism after their successful 1984 campaign and a 5–0 pre-season record. The Giants went 10–6, and Taylor spearheaded a defense that led the NFL in sacks with 68. Taylor had 13. One of the more memorable plays of his career occurred during this season. On a ''Monday Night Football'' game against the Redskins, Taylor's sack of Redskins quarterback Joe Theismann inadvertently resulted in a compound fracture of Theismann's right leg. After the sack, a distraught Taylor screamed for paramedics to attend to Theismann. Although this sack ended Theismann's career, Theismann has never blamed Taylor for the injury. Taylor says he has never seen video of the play and never wants to. During the first round of the playoffs, the Giants defeated the defending champion 49ers 17–3, but lost to the eventual champion Chicago Bears in the second round 21–0.

Mid-career and championships: 1986–1990

In 1986 Taylor had one of the most successful seasons by a defensive player in the history of the NFL. He recorded a league-leading 20.5 sacks and became one of just two defensive players to win the NFL Most Valuable Player award and the only defensive player to be the unanimous selection for MVP. He also was named DPOY for the third time. The Giants finished the season 14–2 and outscored San Francisco and Washington by a combined score of 66–3 in the NFC playoffs. He appeared on the cover of ''Sports Illustrated'' alone the week leading up to Super Bowl XXI with a warning from the magazine to the Denver Broncos regarding Taylor. The Giants overcame a slow start in Super Bowl XXI to defeat Denver 39–20. Taylor made a key touchdown preventing tackle on a goal line play in the first half, stopping Broncos quarterback John Elway as he sprinted out on a rollout.

With the Super Bowl win, Taylor capped off an unprecedented start to his career. After six years, he had been named the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year Award (1981), NFL Defensive Player of the Year a record three times (1981, 1982, 1986), First-team All-Pro six times, become the first defensive player in NFL history unanimously voted the league's MVP (1986), and led his team to a championship (1986). After the win, however, Taylor felt let down rather than elated saying,

The Giants appeared to have a bright future coming off their 1986 championship season as they were one of the younger teams in the league. They struggled the next season however, falling to 6–9 in the strike-shortened 1987 season. Taylor caused strife in the locker room when he broke the picket line after early struggles by the team. He explained his decision by saying "The Giants are losing. And I'm losing $60,000 a week." He finished the season as the team leader in sacks with 12 in 12 games played, but missed a game due to a hamstring injury, ending his consecutive games played streak at 106.

The Giants looked to rebound to their championship ways in 1988 but the start of the season was marred by controversy surrounding Taylor. He tested positive for cocaine and was suspended by the league for thirty days, as it was his second violation of the NFL's substance abuse policy. The first result in 1987 had been kept private and was not known to the public at the time. He was kept away from the press during this period and checked himself into rehab in early September. Taylor's over-the-edge lifestyle was becoming an increasing concern for fans and team officials. This was especially true given the eventual career paths of talented players like Hollywood Henderson and others whose drug problems derailed their careers. The Giants went 2–2 in the games Taylor missed. When Taylor returned he was his usual dominant self as he led the team in sacks again, with 15.5 in 12 games played. The season also contained some of the more memorable moments of Taylor's career. In a crucial late-season game with playoff implications against the New Orleans Saints, Taylor played through a torn pectoral muscle to record seven tackles, three sacks, and two forced fumbles. Taylor's presence in the lineup was important as the Giants' offense was having trouble mounting drives, and was dominated in time of possession. Television cameras repeatedly cut to the sidelines to show him in extreme physical pain as he was being attended to by the Giants staff. Taylor had already developed a reputation for playing through pain; in a 1983 game against the Eagles the team's training staff had to hide his helmet to prevent the injured Taylor from returning to the field. Taylor's shoulder was so injured that he had to wear a harness to keep it in its place. The Giants held on for a 13–12 win, and Parcells later called Taylor's performance "[t]he greatest game I ever saw." However, due to the tie-breaker system, the Giants missed the playoffs in 1988 despite a 10–6 record.

In 1989, Taylor recorded 15 sacks. He was forced to play the latter portion of the season with a fractured tibia, suffered in a 34–24 loss to the 49ers in week 12, which caused him to sit out the second half of several games. Despite his off-the-field problems, Taylor remained popular among his teammates and was voted defensive co-captain along with Carl Banks. The two filled the defensive captain's spot vacated by the retired Harry Carson. The retirement of the nine-time Pro Bowler Carson, broke up the Giants linebacker corps of Carson, Reasons, Banks, and Taylor, which spearheaded the team's defense nicknamed the "Big Blue Wrecking Crew" in the 1980s. The Giants went 12–4, and advanced to the playoffs. In an exciting, down-to-the-wire game, the Rams eliminated the Giants 19–13 in the first round, despite Taylor's two sacks and one forced fumble.

Taylor held out of training camp before the 1990 season, demanding a new contract with a salary of $2 million per year. Talks dragged into September with neither side budging, and as the season approached Taylor received fines at the rate of $2,500 dollars a day. He signed a three year $5 million contract (making him the highest paid defensive player in the league) just four days before the season opener against the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite sitting out training camp and the preseason, Taylor recorded three sacks and a forced fumble against the Eagles. He finished with 10.5 sacks and earned his 10th Pro Bowl in as many years, although the season marked the first time in Taylor's career that he was not selected to the All-Pro team. The Giants started out 10 – 0 and finished with a 13–3 record. In the playoffs, the Giants defeated the Bears 31–3, and faced the rival 49ers in the NFC Championship Game. They won 15–13, after Taylor recovered a key fumble late in the game to set up Matt Bahr's game-winning field goal. In Super Bowl XXV, they played the Buffalo Bills and won one of the more entertaining Super Bowls in history, 20-19, after Buffalo's Scott Norwood missed a potential game-winning field goal as time expired.

Final years and decline: 1991–1993

Following the 1990 season, Parcells, whom Taylor had become very close to, retired, and the team was taken over by Ray Handley. 1991 marked a steep decline in Taylor's production. It became the first season in his career in which he failed to make the Pro Bowl squad, after setting a then record by making it in his first ten years in the league. Taylor finished with 7 sacks in 14 games and the Giants defense, while still respectable, was no longer one of the top units in the league.

Taylor rebounded in the early stages of what many thought would be his final season in 1992. Through close to nine games Taylor was on pace for 10 sacks and the Giants were 5–4. However, a ruptured Achilles tendon suffered in a November eighth game against Green Bay sidelined him for the final seven games, during which the team went 1–6. Before the injury Taylor had missed only four games due to injury in his 12 year career. Throughout the 1992 season, and the ensuing offseason, Taylor was noncommittal about his future, alternately saying he might retire, then later hinting he wanted a longer-term contract.

Taylor returned for the 1993 season enticed by the chance to play with a new coach (Dan Reeves), and determined not to end his career due to an injury. The Giants had a resurgent season in 1993. They finished 11–5, and competed for the top NFC playoff seed. Taylor finished with 6 sacks, and the Giants defense led the NFL in fewest points allowed. They defeated the Vikings 17–10 in the opening round of the playoffs. The next week on January 15, 1994 in what would be Taylor's final game, the Giants were beaten 44–3 by the 49ers. As the game came to a conclusion, television cameras drew in close on Taylor who was crying. He announced his retirement at the post-game press conference saying, "I think it's time for me to retire. I've done everything I can do. I've been to Super Bowls. I've been to playoffs. I've done things that other people haven't been able to do in this game before. After 13 years, it's time for me to go."

Taylor ended his career with 1,088 tackles, 132.5 sacks (not counting the 9.5 sacks he recorded as a rookie because sacks did not become an official statistic until 1982), nine interceptions, 134 return yards, two touchdowns, 33 forced fumbles, 11 fumble recoveries, and 34 fumble return yards.

Impact on the NFL

Taylor is considered one of the best players to ever play in the NFL, and has been ranked as the top defensive player in league history by news outlets, media members, former players and coaches. He has also been described as one of the most "feared" and "intimidating" players in NFL history. Taylor's explosive speed and power is credited with changing the position of outside linebacker from a "read and react" type of position to a more attacking, aggressive position.

Redskins coach Joe Gibbs developed the two tight end offense and the position of h-back to prevent Taylor from blitzing into the backfield unhindered. "We had to try in some way have a special game plan just for Lawrence Taylor. Now you didn't do that very often in this league but I think he's one person that we learned the lesson the hard way. We lost ball games." The tactic employed by Bill Walsh in the 1982 playoffs, using an offensive guard to block Taylor, was copied around the league. However, this left a hole in pass protection that a blitzing middle linebacker could exploit. Later, Walsh and other coaches began using offensive tackles to block Taylor. Later it became common for offensive linemen to pick up blitzing linebackers. In addition to the changes in offensive schemes Taylor influenced, he also introduced new defensive techniques to the game such as chopping the ball out of the quarterback's hands rather than tackling him.

Drugs and extreme measures

In contrast to his success on the football field, Taylor's personal life has been marred by drug usage and controversy. When Taylor was once asked what he could do that no outside linebacker could, his answer was, "Drink". However, alcohol abuse was not the largest of his substance abuse problems. After admitting to and testing positive for cocaine in 1987, he was suspended from football for 30 days in 1988 after failing a second drug test. After his second positive test he gave up drugs for five years as a third positive test would have ended his career. As he approached retirement however, he looked forward to picking up the habit again, saying in his second autobiography, "I saw coke as the only bright spot in my future." After his retirement he began abusing drugs on a regular basis. He went through drug rehab twice in 1995, only to later be arrested twice over a three-year span for attempting to buy cocaine from undercover police officers. During this period, he lived almost exclusively in his home with white sheets covering his windows and only associated with other drug users. Taylor later said, “I had gotten really bad. I mean my place was almost like a crack house." In his second autobiography, Taylor admitted that he had begun using drugs as early as his rookie season in the NFL. He has also stated that his first wife Linda, mother to his three children, once had to come pick him up from a crack house during his playing career.

In a November 2003 interview with Mike Wallace on the television news magazine ''60 Minutes'', Taylor claimed he hired and sent prostitutes to opponents' hotel rooms the night before a game in an attempt to tire them out, and that at his peak, he spent thousands of dollars a day on narcotics. He also recounted several other instances of aberrant behavior, including arriving to a team meeting during his playing career in handcuffs after spending a night with some call girls. He said, "A couple of ladies that were trying out some new equipment they had. You know? And I just happened to, and they just didn't happen to have the key.” He also said that to beat NFL drug tests he routinely submitted the urine of his teammates.

Post-NFL life

In Taylor's final year in the NFL he started a company called All-Pro Products. The company went public at $5 a share, and tripled in value during its first month. The stock price reached $16.50 a share, at which point Taylor's stake had an estimated value of over $10 million. The company ceased production shortly thereafter however, and Taylor, who never sold his stock, lost several hundred thousand dollars. He had been defrauded by several members of the penny stock firm Hanover Sterling & Company, who had short sold the company's stock, making it worthless. The Securities and Exchange Commission ruled that two traders had manipulated the price of the stock, which skyrocketed while the company was losing over $900,000. Taylor has also had self-inflicted financial problems; in 1997 he plead guilty to filing a false tax return in 1990, and in 2000 he was "sentenced to three months of house arrest, five years of probation, and 500 hours of community service for tax evasion."

After his career ended, Taylor worked in several regular television jobs. He first worked as a football analyst for the now defunct ''TNT Sunday Night Football''. In a one-off show, Taylor also appeared as a wrestler in the World Wrestling Federation, defeating Bam Bam Bigelow in the main event of WrestleMania XI. He also worked as a color commentator on an amateur fighting program entitled ''Toughman'' on the FX channel. On September 4, 1995, the Giants retired Phil Simms' jersey during halftime of a game against the Cowboys. Simms celebrated the moment by throwing an impromptu ceremonial pass to Taylor. Simms recalled, "[a]ll of a sudden it kind of hit me, I've put Lawrence in a really tough spot; national TV, he's got dress shoes and a sports jacket on, and he's had a few beers and he's going to run down the field and I'm going to throw him a pass." Simms motioned for Taylor to run a long pattern and after 30–40 yards threw him the pass. Taylor later said the situation made him more nervous than any play of his career, "I'm saying to myself (as the pass is being thrown), 'If I drop this pass, I got to run my black ass all the way back to Upper Saddle River because there ain't no way I'm going to be able to stay in that stadium'." Taylor caught the pass, however, and the capacity crowd in attendance cheered in approval.

Taylor pursued a career in acting, appearing in the Oliver Stone movie ''Any Given Sunday'' where he played a character much like himself. He appeared as himself in the HBO series ''The Sopranos'' and the film ''The Waterboy''. He also had a role in the 2000 version of ''Shaft''. Taylor voiced the steroid-riddled, possibly insane former football player B.J. Smith in the video game, ''Grand Theft Auto: Vice City''. The character poked fun at his fearsome, drug-fueled public image. He also added his voice to the video game ''Blitz: The League'' and its sequel, which were partially based on his life in the NFL. He also acted in the 2000 Christian film ''Mercy Streets'' with Eric Roberts and Stacy Keach, and the 2003 prison movie ''In Hell'' with Jean Claude Van Damme.

In 1999, when Taylor became eligible for the Pro Football Hall of Fame, there were some concerns that his hard-partying lifestyle and drug abuse would hurt his candidacy. These concerns proved to be ill-founded, however, as he was voted in on the first ballot. His son Lawrence Taylor Jr. gave his introduction speech at the induction ceremony. Taylor's ex-wife, his three children, and his parents were in attendance and during his induction speech Taylor acknowledged them saying, "[t]hank you for putting up with me for all those years." He also credited former Giants owner Wellington Mara for being supportive of him saying, "[h]e probably cared more about me as a person than he really should have."

Taylor is currently married to his third wife. His soul-wrenching admission with Mike Wallace in 2003 reignited his popularity with the public. Taylor often spoke of his NFL years, which he played with reckless abandon, and the drug-abusing stages of his life as the "L.T." periods of his life. He described "L.T." as an adrenaline junkie who lived life on a thrill ride. Taylor said in 2003 that "L. T. died a long time ago, and I don't miss him at all...all that's left is Lawrence Taylor."

Taylor re-emerged into the public eye in July 2006, after appearing on the cover of a ''Sports Illustrated'' issue dedicated to former athletes and sport figures. In the magazine, Taylor credited his hobby of golf with helping him get over his previous hard-partying ways and drug filled lifestyle. He co-founded eXfuze, a network marketing company based in West Palm Beach, Florida. Along with former NFL players, such as Eric Dickerson and Seth Joyner, he was a spokesman for Seven+, the flagship multi-botanical drink produced by the company. His son Brandon recently signed a national letter to play with the Purdue Boilermakers. Taylor was a contestant on the 8th season of ''Dancing with the Stars'', partnered with Edyta Śliwińska. He was eliminated in the seventh week on the April 21, 2009 show.

In 2009, Taylor started having troubles in his personal life again. On November 8, he was arrested in Miami-Dade County, Florida for leaving the scene of an accident after striking another vehicle with his Cadillac Escalade. He had already committed the same offense in 1996 when he totaled his Lexus in a one-car accident and left the scene, saying he did not think the law required the reporting of a single driver incident. He was released on a $500 bond, and the other driver later sued him, seeking $15,000. He was arrested six months later for having sex with a 16-year-old girl. He was charged with felony third-degree statutory rape, for allegedly engaging in sexual intercourse with someone under 17. He was also charged with third-degree patronization for allegedly paying the underage girl $300 to have sex with him. His bail was set at $75,000. Taylor had faced up to five years in prison and lifetime sex offender registration if convicted of both crimes. On June 23, 2010, Taylor was indicted on these charges, and pled not guilty on July 13. On January 13, 2011 Taylor pled guilty to some of the charges thereby resolving the case. On March 22, 2011 Taylor was sentenced to six years probation as part of a plea agreement, which saw him plead guilty to the misdemeanors of sexual misconduct and patronizing a prostitute. He will also have to register as a level one sex offender.

Career statistics

Sources:

!SEASON	!TEAM	!GP	!Sacks	!Int	!Yds	!TD(int)	!FR	!Yds	!TD(fumb)
1981	New York	16	9.5*	1	1	0	1	4	0
1982	New York	9	7.5	1	97t	1	0	0	0
1983	New York	16	9	2	10	0	2	3	1
1984	New York	16	11.5	1	-1	0	0	0	0
1985	New York	16	13	0	0	0	2	25	0
1986	New York	16	20.5	0	0	0	0	0	0
1987	New York	12	12	3	16	0	0	0	0
1988	New York	12	15.5	0	0	0	1	0	0
1989	New York	16	15	0	0	0	0	0	0
1990	New York	16	10.5	1	11t	1	1	0	0
1991	New York	14	7	0	0	0	2	0	0
1992	New York	9	5	0	0	0	1	2	0
1993	New York	16	6	0	0	0	1	0	0
Totals		184	132.5**	9	134	2	11	34	1

* Unofficial statistic (sacks did not become an official statistic until 1982), however this number is stated on Taylor's Pro Football Hall of Fame bio, and is considered to be accurate. **Including the 9.5 Taylor unofficially recorded as a rookie, his total is 142.

Key to Abbreviations GP= Games Played Int= Interception Yds= Yards t= Play resulted in a touchdown TD= Touchdowns FR= Fumbles Recovered

See also

History of the New York Giants (1979–1993)

Notes

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Rand, Jonathan. ''Riddell Presents the Gridiron's Greatest Linebackers'', Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. 2003 ISBN 1582616256

Smith, Ron and Moritz, Carl. ''The Sporting News Selects Football's 100 Greatest Players: A Celebration of the 20th Century's Best'', Missouri: Sporting News Publishing Co. 1999 ISBN 0-892-04624-4

Sprechman, Jordan and Shannon, Bill. ''This Day in New York Sports'', Illinois: Sports Publishing LLC. 1998 ISBN 1571672540

Taylor, Lawrence and Falkner, David. ''LT: Living on the Edge'' New York: Random House. 1987 ISBN 0812917030

Taylor, Lawrence and Serby, Steve. ''LT: Over the Edge Tackling Quarterbacks, Drugs, and a World Beyond Football.'' New York: HarperCollins. 2003 ISBN 0060185511

Taylor, Lawrence. ''Taylor (Icons of the NFL).'' New York: Rugged Land. 2006 ISBN 1590710827

Walsh, Chris. ''New York Giants Football: Guide and Record Book.'' Illinois: Triumph Books 2009 ISBN 1600781896

Ziegel, Vic. ''Giants in the Earth.'' New York Media, LLC Vol. 16, No. 40 October 10, 1983 ISSN 0028-7369 (available online

External links

''Pro Football Hall of Fame:'' Member profile

Video NFL Top 100 Players #3

Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:African American players of American football Category:African American actors Category:American film actors Category:American football linebackers Category:American football outside linebackers Category:American sex offenders Category:American sportspeople in doping cases Category:Doping cases in American football Category:Lingerie Football League coaches Category:National Conference Pro Bowl players Category:National Football League players with retired numbers Category:National Football League announcers Category:New York Giants players Category:NFL 75th Anniversary All-Time Team Category:National Football League Defensive Rookie of the Year Award winners Category:North Carolina Tar Heels football players Category:Participants in American reality television series Category:People from Upper Saddle River, New Jersey Category:People from Williamsburg, Virginia Category:Pro Football Hall of Fame inductees

de:Lawrence Taylor fr:Lawrence Taylor lv:Lorenss Teilors no:Lawrence Taylor pt:Lawrence Taylor simple:Lawrence Taylor sv:Lawrence Taylor

Coordinates	2°31′″N101°48′″N
Name	Scott Hall
Names	Scott HallRazor RamonDiamond StudStarship CoyoteTexas Scott
Height
Weight
Birth date	October 20, 1958
Birth place	Chuluota, Florida
Resides	Chuluota, Florida
Billed	Miami, Florida
Trainer	Hiro MatsudaAl SnowBarry WindhamMike Rotunda Christopher Adams|Hardcore Holly
Debut	October 13, 1984

Scott Hall (born October 20, 1958) is an American professional wrestler. He is best known for his tenure with the World Wrestling Federation in the early and mid 1990s under the ring name Razor Ramon, as well as for his period in the late 90s with World Championship Wrestling under his real name. Since the late 2000s, Hall has become most well known for his much publicized battles with alcoholism and drug addiction, which he initially struggled with in the late 1990s during his time in World Championship Wrestling. He also appeared in the Insane Clown Posse movie Big Money Rustlas.

During his tenure with the WCW, Hall was one of the three original members of the nWo stable (along with Hulk Hogan and Kevin Nash), whose storyline involving the "invasion" of the WCW by anarchist wrestlers helped to skyrocket WCW's television ratings and reinvigorated interest in the promotion. He has held several titles over the course of his career, most notably the WWF Intercontinental championship, which he held four times, and the WCW World Tag Team Championship, which he held seven-times.

Outside of the ring, Hall—along with Shawn Michaels, Triple H, Kevin Nash and Sean Waltman— is a member of The Kliq, a group of wrestlers who were friends backstage.

Hall is also known for his appearances with various other wrestling promotions including the American Wrestling Association, Extreme Championship Wrestling and Total Nonstop Action Wrestling. He currently serves as Executive Consultant to Juggalo Championship Wrestling.

Professional wrestling career

National Wrestling Alliance

Hall began his career in 1984 in Championship Wrestling from Florida (CWF) and soon began a feud with Dusty Rhodes. Scott Hall and his workout buddy Dan Spivey were trained in Florida mainly by Dusty Rhodes but also received training from Rick Martel and Barry Windham. When it was time for the team's debut Dusty Rhodes made a deal with Jim Crockett for the two to work in Crockett's territory based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. While wrestling for Jim Crockett Promotions as part of the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) in 1984 and 1985, Hall formed a tag team with Dan Spivey, known as American Starship ("Starship Coyote" and "Starship Eagle", respectively). With their furry boots, massive stature, bright masks and Hulk Hogan-esque t-shirt ripping routine the two men were easy to spot on any card.

Initially, American Starship worked only sporadically. At first they were booked so sparingly that the two were given a job for the Charlotte Orioles (which Jim Crockett owned at the time) as part of the ground crew. When the two men did get into the ring it was with little success, the highlight of their stay in Crocket's Mid Atlantic Championship Wrestling was being defeated by Arn and Ole Anderson when the rookies challenged for the NWA National Tag Team Championship. After working in MAW the duo joined Bob Geigel's NWA Central States territory based in Kansas City in 1985.

The duo had a shot at the NWA Central States Tag Team Champions Marty Janetty and "Bulldog" Bob Brown but did not manage to win the titles. Spivey’s stay in the Central States territory was short lived, according to Scott Hall Spivey did not like Kansas City. Spivey returned to the Carolinas and the recently redubbed "Jim Crockett Promotions" where he worked as "American Starship" Eagle as a jobber. Hall however stayed and got a big push and gained the respect of several big names including Nick Bockwinkel and Larry Zbyszko who went to a time limit draw with a rookie Hall, and he also developed a friendship with Curt Hennig.

American Wrestling Association

Scott Hall next moved on to the American Wrestling Association (AWA) in 1985, where he was named "Magnum" Scott Hall, name checking Magnum T.A., and later "Big" Scott Hall and was pushed as a babyface wrestler. Verne Gagne, the owner and promoter of the AWA, tried to push another younger superstar to the same heights as Hulk Hogan following Hogan's departure to Vince McMahon's World Wrestling Federation (WWF). Gagne had Hall use mannerisms and moves similar to Hogan.

Hall eventually formed a tag team with fellow future-superstar Curt Hennig, and together they defeated "Gorgeous" Jimmy Garvin and "Mr. Electricity" Steve Regal for the AWA World Tag Team Championship on January 18, 1986 (However, the match never really took place. It was a phantom title change due to the fact that Regal had left the company shortly before the title change was scheduled to take place, so the AWA put the belts on Hennig and Hall claiming that they won the belts in an "epic" 58 minute match in Albuquerque, New Mexico). Referred to as the "Perfect Combination" by ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'', the team gained victories over "Playboy" Buddy Rose and "Pretty Boy" Doug Somers, Konga the Barbarian and Boris Zhukov, and Bill and Scott Irwin. They eventually dropped the belts to Rose and Somers by countout (even though in all wrestling, including the AWA, belts didn't change hands on DQ's or countouts; This was never explained) on May 17, due to interference by Colonel DeBeers. After losing the title, Hall and Hennig soon parted ways, with the AWA pushing Hall into matches for the AWA World Heavyweight Championship with Stan Hansen and Rick Martel. Although Gagne wanted to put the AWA world title on Hall, he hated the cold, and recognized the sinking ship and moved on to the NWA in 1989.

NWA, WCW, and WWC

Scott Hall was brought in, under his real name, to the National Wrestling Alliance's World Championship Wrestling (WCW) territory by Jim Ross in 1989, when the NWA was beginning to focus on developing new, young superstars such as Brian Pillman and Sid Vicious. His first and only pay-per-view appearance during this time was at The Great American Bash: The Glory Days, which saw Hall participate (unsuccessfully) in a King of the Hill battle royal. Scott Hall made little impact during this run and soon after he began jobbing regularly, after which he went on hiatus.

Hall made a brief stint in 1991 in the Puerto Rican promotion World Wrestling Council (WWC). On March 3, he defeated Miguel Pérez, Jr. for the WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship, holding it for one month before losing the title to Super Medic III on April 20, 1991.

World Championship Wrestling

The Diamond Studd

Hall returned to the NWA in 1991, although by then the region was known as World Championship Wrestling (WCW). He was named The Diamond Studd, whose gimmick was similar to Ravishing Rick Rude's with the added element of a monster big man heel, and he was managed by Diamond Dallas Page. He squashed Tommy Rich in his debut on the June 14 edition of ''Clash of the Champions'', and he defeated Tom Zenk at The Great American Bash.

He received a significant push in his early days with WCW, but by the end of 1991 this began to fade, starting with the September 2 edition of ''Clash of the Champions'', where Studd was defeated by Ron Simmons. At Halloween Havoc: Chamber of Horrors, the team of Studd, Abdullah the Butcher, Cactus Jack, and Big Van Vader lost to Sting, El Gigante, and the Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott). On the November 19 edition of ''Clash of the Champions'', Studd lost to Zenk in a rematch from The Great American Bash.

In 1992, he formed short-lived tag teams with Vinnie Vegas and Scotty Flamingo during his time in the Diamond Mine stable, while also teaming with members of Paul E. Dangerously's Dangerous Alliance. The idea of adding him to the Dangerous Alliance fell through, however, and he left WCW shortly after.

World Wrestling Federation

Razor Ramon

Hall signed a contract with the World Wrestling Federation (WWF) in 1992 and his character evolved from Scott Hall to that of Razor Ramon, a shady, but stylish Cuban American bully from Miami. The Latino-heel persona was modeled after Tony Montana and Manny Ribera (Al Pacino and Steven Bauer's characters from the movie ''Scarface'', respectively). Hall's nickname (The Bad Guy) and catchphrase ("Say hello to The Bad Guy") derive from quotes from the movie; "Say hello to my little friend" and "Say goodnight to the bad guy".

Later in his career, Hall claimed he pitched the idea of a ''Scarface''-like character during a meeting with Vince McMahon and Pat Patterson, as a joke. Hall quoted lines with a Cuban accent and gave ideas for vignettes (also inspired by the movie) that would involve Hall recreating several scenes, such as Ramon driving around South Florida in a convertible with a leopard-skin interior. Although his pitch was taken right from the film, Hall claims McMahon and Patterson were nevertheless floored by the ideas and called Hall a "genius." Hall later learned that neither McMahon nor Patterson had ever seen or heard of the film, and thus believed that Hall was coming up with the ideas himself. Patterson and McMahon came up with the name Razor, but agreed with Hall's suggestion that "Razor" should be a nickname, and that the character needed an actual given name. Hall later asked Tito Santana for a Latino sounding name that starts with R, and when he suggested "Ramon" Hall promptly brought it back to McMahon and the name stuck.

Hall's WWF debut was preceded by his vignettes, with his in-ring debut coming on the August 8, 1992 edition of ''Superstars'', defeating local jobber Paul Van Dow with his finishing move, the Razor's Edge (Hall had used the finisher in his run in WCW, under the name "Diamond Death Drop"). Early on, Ramon would wear large gold chain necklaces to the ring; upon handing them to an attendant at ringside he would threaten "Something happens to this, something gonna happen to you.", and then flick his toothpick at the hapless attendant.

Hall's first major angle began on the September 14 edition of ''Prime Time Wrestling'', where Ramon interfered in a WWF Championship match between the champion Randy Savage and the challenger Ric Flair. Ramon helped Flair win the title after attacking Savage on the floor. As a result, Ramon and Savage started a feud with each other, which then went on to include the Ultimate Warrior after Warrior saved Savage from a post-match beating by Ramon. Ramon and Flair were scheduled to face the Ultimate Maniacs (Savage and Warrior) at the Survivor Series; however, Warrior was fired from the WWF prior to the event and was replaced by Flair's executive consultant, Mr. Perfect, who had made a face turn. At Survivor Series, Ramon and Flair went on to lose to Savage and Perfect after being disqualified by the referee for constantly double-teaming their opponents.

WWF Champion Bret Hart was scheduled to defend his title against the Ultimate Warrior at the Royal Rumble, but the Warrior's departure from the WWF left Hart without a challenger, and Razor Ramon replaced him. During the feud, Ramon continued his heel persona by disrespecting Hart and the Hart wrestling family. Like his previous attempts to win the AWA Championship in the late 1980s, Ramon was unable to defeat Hart at the Royal Rumble, submitting to the Sharpshooter. Ramon won a 16-man battle royal the following month after Giant González—who was not a participant in the match—entered the ring and eliminated Tatanka and El Matador. Ramon made his WrestleMania debut at WrestleMania IX, defeating former WWF Champion Bob Backlund with a roll-up.

Ramon defeated Tito Santana to qualify for the King of the Ring tournament in 1993, but lost in the quarterfinals to the eventual tournament winner and the man he lost to at the Royal Rumble, Bret Hart. On the May 17 edition of ''Monday Night Raw'' he had an upset loss to jobber "The Kid" (who would later gain the nickname the "1-2-3 Kid" following the upset). As a result, a small feud between himself and the 1-2-3 Kid began; it carried with him into the King of the Ring tournament; and it also began a slow face turn for Ramon, who had gained both respect for The Kid and support from the crowd. Ted DiBiase, however, did not show respect for Ramon and instead began making fun of Ramon for losing to such a small jobber. Ramon's face turn was solidified after helping the 1-2-3 Kid defeat DiBiase. The feud culminated in a match at SummerSlam, where Ramon defeated DiBiase in DiBiase's final WWF match before going to Japan.

Intercontinental Champion

On the October 4, 1993 edition of ''Monday Night Raw'', a 20-man battle royal for the vacant WWF Intercontinental Championship was held; the last two participants would face other the following week for the title. Ramon and Rick Martel were the final two. The next week on ''Raw'', Ramon came out on top following a Razor's Edge to win the vacant Intercontinental Championship. Ramon would go on to have successful defenses against the likes of Martel and Irwin R. Schyster (IRS). At Survivor Series, Ramon teamed with Marty Jannetty, Randy Savage, and the 1-2-3 Kid to take on the team of Martel, IRS, Adam Bomb, and Diesel. Razor, captaining his team, went on to eliminate the opposing captain, IRS, after scoring a pin following a Razor's Edge. Although he was later eliminated from the match after being counted out when IRS hit him with his briefcase, Razor's team went on to win the match, beginning a feud between the two captains. Ramon's feud with IRS culminated at Royal Rumble where he defeated IRS to retain the Intercontinental title following the Razor's Edge.

At the same time, Ramon was in the early stages of a feud with Shawn Michaels over who had the real claim to the Intercontinental champion. Michaels had been stripped of the title months before due to "inactivity" (he was actually on suspension at that time), but began appearing on television with his own version of the belt, claiming he had never been beaten for it. Their feud was showcased with Ramon defending the Intercontinental Championship against Michaels in a ladder match at WrestleMania X, where Ramon retained the championship after retrieving both belts. This match was voted ''Pro Wrestling Illustrated'''s Match of the Year in 1994. It was also the first WWF match to receive a five star rating from Dave Meltzer of the ''Wrestling Observer Newsletter''. On WWE.com, this match is rated as the #5 match in the top 22 matches in WrestleMania history. Ramon continued to feud with Michaels and his bodyguard Diesel and on the April 30 edition of ''Superstars'', he dropped the Intercontinental Championship to Diesel after interference from Michaels.

Ramon went on to defeat Kwang to qualify for the King of the Ring tournament in 1994. At King of the Ring, he defeated Bam Bam Bigelow in the quarterfinals of the tournament and Irwin R. Schyster in the semifinals, before a loss in the finals of the tournament to his old rival Bret Hart's younger brother, Owen. At SummerSlam, Ramon (with Walter Payton in his corner) defeated Diesel to win his second WWF Intercontinental Championship after Shawn Michaels accidentally hit Diesel with Sweet Chin Music. At Survivor Series, he captained a team dubbed "The Bad Guys" consisting of himself, the 1-2-3 Kid, Davey Boy Smith, and The Headshrinkers (Fatu and Sione) against The Teamsters (Shawn Michaels, Diesel, Owen Hart, Jim Neidhart, and Jeff Jarrett). Ramon ended up as the sole survivor of the match and by the end of 1994, he began a feud with Jeff Jarrett which led into the next year.

At the Royal Rumble in 1995, Ramon lost the Intercontinental Championship to Jarrett, although the match ended in controversial fashion; Jarrett had originally won the match by count-out, but demanded that the match be restarted so he could win the title. Jarrett then pinned the champion with a small package. He faced Jarrett in a rematch for the Intercontinental Championship at WrestleMania XI. Ramon won the match by disqualification after Jarrett's assistant The Roadie interfered; thus, Jarrett retained the title as a title cannot change hands by count-out or disqualification. Ramon later defeated Jarrett and Roadie at In Your House 1 in a handicap match. On May 16, Razor qualified for the King of the Ring tournament by defeating Jacob Blu. He later defeated Jarrett in a ladder match on May 19, 1995 at a live event to win his third WWF Intercontinental Championship. At that time, this was a record because Ramon was the first man to hold the Intercontinental title three times. Three days later on May 22, he lost the title back to Jarrett. ''(Actually, this win of the IC title was "accidental." Jarrett was booked to win the ladder match, but was legitimately injured during the match and could not prevent Razor from retrieving the title belt. To avoid breaking kayfabe, Razor had no choice but to win the match. As a result, Jarrett was booked to regain the title on the May 22 event.)'' On June 9, Ramon suffered a rib injury during a ladder match rematch against Jarrett. During this time, he formed a team with Savio Vega, and Vega defeated Irwin R. Schyster in the Free for All match at the pay-per-view to fill Razor's vacancy. Razor managed Vega throughout the tournament, who ultimately lost to Mabel in the finals.

Razor and Vega lost to Men on a Mission (Mabel and Mo) at In Your House 2: The Lumberjacks, and a Tag Team Championship match against Owen Hart and Yokozuna on the August 7 edition of ''Raw''. Razor received an Intercontinental title ladder match against the new champion Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam, in what was considered to be their WrestleMania X rematch. Razor went on to lose the match against Michaels, and then started a feud with Dean Douglas. Ramon defeated Douglas at In Your House 4 for the Intercontinental Championship. Michaels had just forfeited the title to Douglas.

In early 1996, Ramon started a feud with newcomer Goldust, leading to an Intercontinental title match at the Royal Rumble. Ramon lost the title to Goldust after Ramon's former partner the 1-2-3 Kid (who had previously made a heel turn) cost him the match. He became a member of the WWF's off-stage The Kliq which consisted of Kevin Nash (Diesel), Paul Levesque (Hunter Hearst Helmsley), Michael Hickenbottom (Shawn Michaels), and Sean Waltman (1-2-3 Kid). Razor was originally scheduled to face Goldust in a rematch for the title at WrestleMania XII, but had been suspended by the WWF in the weeks prior due to drug abuse. He was not seen on WWF television again until April's In Your House 7 where he jobbed to Vader. Hall was also a participant in the MSG Incident. As Hall and fellow Kliq member Kevin Nash were departing for WCW, the pair along with Hickenbottom (Shawn Michaels) and Levesque (Triple H) broke kayfabe, celebrating and embracing in the ring together.

World Championship Wrestling

The Outsiders and the New World Order (1996-1998)

Hall's first appearance on May 27, 1996 on WCW television after leaving the WWF was an unannounced interview where he appeared from the crowd in street clothes, claiming to be "an outsider." He was then joined in the following weeks by Kevin Nash, the two claiming they were going to undertake a hostile takeover of WCW, slamming Eric Bischoff through the announcer's table in the process. The angle directly paralleled the real-life competition between WCW and the WWF. At the following pay-per-view, Bash at the Beach, Nash and Hall, known as The Outsiders, challenged Sting, Lex Luger, and Randy Savage to a '3 vs. 3' match, announcing a 'mystery partner' as their third partner. The mystery partner turned out to be Hulk Hogan, and the three formed the New World Order (nWo). The stable stormed WCW, enlisting such stars as Syxx (Kliq member Sean Waltman) and The Giant.

Hall and Nash closed out 1996 with victories over Sting and Lex Luger at Hog Wild, and WCW's WarGames match at Fall Brawl. They defeated Harlem Heat (Booker T and Stevie Ray) at Halloween Havoc for their first WCW World Tag Team Championship. They successfully defended the titles against The Nasty Boys (Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags) and Faces of Fear (The Barbarian and Meng) at World War 3, and then again defeated the Faces of Fear at Starrcade. The duo would hold the WCW World Tag Team title from February 24, 1997 to October 13, 1997, often feuding with the Steiner Brothers (Rick and Scott), Lex Luger and the Giant, and the Four Horsemen. Since Eric Bischoff was a member of the nWo, he used his power to return the title to the Outsiders on a technicality whenever they lost them. The Outsiders would also use the Freebird Rule to defend their title. With Nash and Syxx out with injuries, Hall used the last quarter of 1997 to focus on singles wrestling. Hall was defeated by Luger in a grudge match at Halloween Havoc via submission with Larry Zbyszko serving as the guest referee. One of Hall's greatest achievements in WCW was winning the 60 man battle royal at World War 3 1997 earning a shot at the WCW World Heavyweight Championship.

On the January 12, 1998 edition of ''Nitro'', Hall and Nash defeated the Steiner Brothers for their second WCW World Tag Team Championship. Hall eventually wrestled Larry Zbyszko at Souled Out but lost by disqualification. The Outsiders lost the tag title back to the Steiners on the February 9 edition of ''Nitro''. At SuperBrawl VIII, the Outsiders won their third WCW World Tag Team Championship by defeating the Steiner Brothers. At Uncensored, Hall got his title shot against Sting for the World Heavyweight Championship as a result of winning World War 3, and lost the match, despite interference from Dusty Rhodes. He would then be taken off TV for a short while in early 1998 in a show of power by WCW President Eric Bischoff as a way to keep Hall and Nash in check and was forced by the company to enter rehabiliation after he and Nash both showed up to the March 16, 1998 edition of ''Nitro'' heavily intoxicated. While Hall was absent, the nWo split into two warring factions. As he was still one half of the tag team champions with Kevin Nash, the thinking was that Hall would return alongside his friend in the nWo Wolfpac.

nWo Hollywood (1998)

At Slamboree, Hall returned to team with Kevin Nash in a title defense against Sting and The Giant. In a swerve, Hall turned on Nash, costing them the title and jumping sides to align himself with Hulk Hogan in nWo Hollywood. On the July 6 edition of ''Nitro'', a returning Scott Hall was handpicked by Hogan to wrestle United States Champion Bill Goldberg. Hall lost the match, setting the stage for Hogan to be defeated later that night by Goldberg for the World Heavyweight Championship. Hogan publicly blamed Hall for the loss and Hall was seen as a weak link by the rest of the nWo, especially Scott Steiner.

On July 13, Hogan challenged Hall to a match on ''Nitro''. Hall accepted the challenge and it looked like Hall had finally gotten sick of being ordered around by Hogan and his lackeys. However, Nash interfered during the match. As he was about to Jacknife Powerbomb Hogan and regain Hall as his friend, Hall viciously attacked Nash, proving his allegiance to Hogan and nWo Hollywood. In the following weeks, Hall mocked Nash calling himself "Medium Sexy (later "Super Sexy"), the Nash Killer." On the July 20 edition of ''Nitro'', Hall won his fourth WCW World Tag Team Championship with The Giant, as they defeated Sting and Nash due to outside interference from Bret Hart, who was in the midst of a rivalry with Sting at the time. This title reign would come to an end at Halloween Havoc, when Rick Steiner defeated The Giant and Scott Steiner (who replaced Hall) to claim the title even after partner Buff Bagwell turned on him.

Scott Hall's character became out of control and would bring alcohol to the ring, and his behavior on TV mirrored his real-life problems with drugs and alcohol. This had him once "vomit" on Eric Bischoff, and in another vignette, Kevin Nash along with Wolfpac members Konnan and Lex Luger, followed Hall to a local bar where Hall and Nash had a physical confrontation.

Hall and Nash eventually faced each other on October 25 at Halloween Havoc. After hitting Hall with two Jackknife Powerbombs, Nash left the ring and lost the match by count-out in what was seen as an act of mercy. Hall was then ousted by nWo Hollywood after Steiner took control in Hogan's absence in late 1998. He then referred to himself as the Lone Wolf. On November 30, 1998, Hall needed a tag partner to face the team of Steiner and Horace Hogan. Initially, Hall said he would do it alone, but Kevin Nash came to the entrance and told Hall he would tag with him. Together the team, formerly known as the Outsiders, won the match. At Starrcade, Hall disguised himself as a security staff member and used a stun gun on WCW Champion Goldberg during his title match with Kevin Nash. Having not seen the interference, Kevin Nash jackknifed and covered Goldberg to become the WCW Champion and break Goldberg's winning streak.

nWo Reunion, United States Champion and World Television Champion (1999-2000)

It seemed Nash and Hall were seeing eye to eye again, and it all came to a head in January 1999 when the two nWo factions rejoined. Scott Hall feuded with Goldberg and faced him in a "Ladder Taser match" on January 19 at Souled Out. Hall lost the match when Goldberg used the taser gun on Hall. At SuperBrawl IX, Hall defeated Roddy Piper for the WCW United States Heavyweight Championship. Shortly after, Hall suffered a foot injury forcing him to forfeit the title. Hall would not be seen again until October 1999 when he and Kevin Nash began sitting at ringside during WCW television, proclaiming that "the band was getting back together." On the November 8 edition of ''Nitro'', Hall defeated Goldberg, Bret Hart, and Sid Vicious in a Texas Tornado ladder match to win his second United States Heavyweight Championship. Two weeks later at Mayhem, he defeated Rick Steiner by forfeit to win the WCW World Television Championship, therefore becoming a double champion. He successfully defended both titles against Booker T later that same night.

Hall, however, vacated the TV title by throwing it into a trash can eight days later on ''Nitro''. Hall's U.S. title was soon stripped due to a knee injury and awarded to Chris Benoit. Hall and Nash would eventually team up to defeat Bret Hart and Bill Goldberg on the December 13 edition of ''Nitro'' for their sixth WCW World Tag Team Championship as a team. Yet soon afterwards, Hall's personal problems arose again and the tag team title was stripped from the Outsiders. After the nWo returned in December 1999, Hall soon joined teammates Kevin Nash, Bret Hart, Jeff Jarrett, and Scott Steiner in what was coined "nWo 2000." As 2000 came along, Scott Hall got involved in a feud with WCW World Heavyweight Champion Sid Vicious and nWo teammate Jeff Jarrett for the WCW title. Sid pinned Hall in a match also involving Jarrett at SuperBrawl on February 20. This pay-per-view appearance was Scott Hall's last, and it ended his stint in WCW. In total, Hall won seven World Tag Team Championships, one World Television Championship and two United States Heavyweight Championships.

Extreme Championship Wrestling / New Japan Pro Wrestling

Hall wrestled in Extreme Championship Wrestling (ECW) for a brief period. He wrestled two non-televised matches (one against Big Sal, the other against Justin Credible) on November 10 and 11. He then wrestled in Japan and also did some independent shows in the United States. When he was in New Japan Pro Wrestling, he was a part of nWo Japan/Team 2000/ArisTrisT usually tagging with Masahiro Chono, fellow WCW alumni Scott Norton or Super J/Black Scorpion/nWo Sting. The highlights of his stay in New Japan, however, were only defeats: a loss to All Japan Pro Wrestling (AJPW) Triple Crown champion Keiji Mutoh (the match was booked by New Japan, but AJPW Wada officiated) and a loss to then-rookie Hiroshi Tanahashi, who was trying to break out into the heavyweight division.

Return to World Wrestling Federation

Six years since leaving to join WCW, Hall returned to the WWF and reunited with Kevin Nash and Hulk Hogan to repackage the nWo in February.

He started a feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin and they fought each other in a match at WrestleMania X8 which Austin won. The match however came under heavy critique from Austin on his return to the company in 2003, claiming the match did not meet his nor Hall's fans expectations and was disappointed it only lasted seven minutes. On the March 25 edition of ''Raw'', Hall was drafted to the Raw brand as a result of the Brand Extension, where he feuded with Bradshaw, culminating in a match at Backlash which Hall won. Hall then continued his feud with Austin, however he then opened release talks from his contract due to personal issues stemming from a child-custody dispute with his wife.

Hall was however fired from the company after Insurrextion 2002. No official explanation has ever been released by the company nor Hall himself.

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

Hall worked for Total Nonstop Action Wrestling (TNA) periodically between 2002 and 2005. He was on TNA's debut pay-per-view and later teamed up with Syxx-Pac when he made his debut in the promotion. Hall had three matches for the International Wrestling Association (IWA) in Puerto Rico in April 2003. On February 24, 2004, the Outsiders briefly reunited for Ultimate Pro Wrestling's fifth anniversary show where they lost to Tom Howard and Christopher Daniels. They also had a match in Japan in May 2004 where they lost to Naoya Ogawa and Shinya Hashimoto. Hall disappeared until late 2004, when he made his return alongside the debut of Kevin Nash, and both signed and were offered contracts as TNA prepared for their first monthly pay-per-view, Victory Road. Hall joined Nash and Jeff Jarrett in the Kings of Wrestling, a stable similar to the nWo. The Kings of Wrestling lost to Randy Savage, Jeff Hardy, and A.J. Styles at Turning Point on December 5. Hall lost to Jeff Hardy at Final Resolution on January 16, 2005 in his final TNA match of this stint.

World Wrestling Council

On July 13, Hall made his return to wrestling for the World Wrestling Council (WWC) as Razor Ramon, albeit while wearing WolfPac themed attire, in the main event of the WWC Anniversary tour at the José Miguel Agrelot Coliseum in San Juan against Carlito. Hall was defeated after Apollo interfered on Carlito's behalf. The next night, Hall won his 2nd World Championship, the WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship when he defeated Carlito and then-champion Apollo in a Three-Way Dance match in the main event of the evening. On August 4 and September 23, Hall successfully defended the title against Eddie Colón, Carlito's younger brother. On October 27, he again retained the title at WWC's ''Halloween Wrestling Xtravaganza'' by defeating Carlito's cousin Orlando "Fireblaze" Colon. In this match, Scott was managed by his friend Rico Casanova.

Scott Hall no-showed his scheduled appearances in Puerto Rico for WWC where he was scheduled to wrestle on December 14 in Ponce and December 15 in Caguas. Hall arrived late to the island Friday which is the reason why he missed the Ponce event. Although Hall was on the island on Saturday, he was affected emotionally by several family issues that had occurred earlier in the week and was unable to compete.

Return to Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

On the November 1 edition of ''Impact!'', it was predicted by Kevin Nash that Scott Hall would be Sting's mystery partner at Genesis. On the November 8 edition of ''Impact!'', Hall made his return to major American pro wrestling television, rebuffing the advances of Kurt Angle's wife, Karen, and then battling Kurt in his dressing room. Hall stated that he was in TNA solely to confront Nash. Hall asked Nash why he was not there to help him in his troubled past, and Nash responded that it was a result of his own nonstop partying and risk of losing his family. Hall then claimed that all was forgiven and the two embraced in the ring. He also revealed that he was not Sting's mystery partner. The reunited Outsiders and Samoa Joe then began a feud with the Angle Alliance. They were to compete together at Turning Point, but Hall no-showed the event.

Juggalo Championship Wrestling

Hall made his Juggalo Championship Wrestling (JCW) debut on August 12, 2007 at ''Bloodymania'', losing to the JCW Heavyweight Champion Corporal Robinson. In the match, Hall took his first ever bump on thumbtacks.

On October 6, 2007, Corporal Robinson, Scott Hall, and Violent J formed the Juggalo World Order (JWO) at ''Evansville Invasion''. At that years ''Hallowicked After Party'', on October 31, Shaggy 2 Dope was introduced as a member of the group. After the main event of the night, special guest referee Nosawa ripped off his referee shirt to reveal that he too was a member of the JWO. At ''Bloodymania II'', Kevin Nash teamed with Scott Hall and proclaimed himself a member of the group. The 2008 ''Hallowicked After Party'' saw the JWO induct its newest member, 2 Tuff Tony.

On November 9, the Juggalo World Order (Scott Hall, Shaggy 2 Dope, Violent J, 2 Tuff Tony, and Corporal Robinson) "invaded" Total Nonstop Action Wrestling's Turning Point PPV by purchasing front row tickets to the event. They proceeded to promote their faction by flashing their JWO jerseys, before being removed from the building. The group expressed interest in "invading" WWE at its 2009 Royal Rumble PPV, but were unable due to filming commitments for Big Money Rustlas in Los Angeles. They have also shown interest in "invading" Ring Of Honor and Ultimate Fighting Championship.

Hall teamed with Kevin Nash at Great Lakes Championship Wrestling on the March 21, 2009 and faced The New Age Outlaws, in what was the first match pitting the nWo vs. DX. Nash walked out on Hall, setting up a grudge match between the two that was scheduled for June. That match never happened. Hall and Nash were supposed to team together at JCW's Bloodymania as part of team jWo with the ICP, but Nash was replaced with Sid Justice because of the Outsider split. Hall later defeated Sid in a singles match on August 22. Hall has wrestled Sid in various independent promotions throughout the latter portion of 2009.

Return to TNA Wrestling (2010)

On the January 4, 2010 three-hour Monday night live edition of ''Impact!'' Hall and Sean Waltman returned to TNA on the night Hulk Hogan made his debut for the company. Kevin Nash, Hall and Waltman quickly reformed their old-time alliance, but Hogan kept himself out of the group, claiming that times have changed. The following week the newly revived alliance was named "The Band". Hall was scheduled to team with Nash at Genesis in a match against Beer Money, Inc. (Robert Roode and James Storm), but was replaced at the event by Sean Waltman (who was renamed Syxx-Pac). In the end Hall inadvertently cost his stable mates the match. On the following edition of ''Impact!'' Hogan, disgusted by the actions of The Band, had security remove Hall and Waltman from the Impact! Zone, since they were not under contract with the company. Despite this Hall and Syxx-Pac kept on returning to Impact! Zone for random attacks and on the February 4 edition of ''Impact!'' they turned on Nash and beat him down. At Destination X Hall and Syxx-Pac faced Nash and Eric Young in a tag team match, where the Band's TNA futures were on the line. In the end Nash turned on Young and helped the Band pick up the victory, which finally gave them contracts with the company. On the March 29 edition of ''Impact!'' the Band lost a six man tag team steel cage match against Eric Young, Rob Van Dam and Jeff Hardy. At Lockdown Hall and Nash were defeated by Team 3D in a St. Louis Street Fight. On the May 3 edition of ''Impact!'' Eric Young turned on Team 3D and joined The Band. On May 4, at the tapings of the May 13 edition of ''Impact!'', Hall teamed with Nash, when he cashed in his "Feast or Fired" contract and defeated Matt Morgan to win the TNA World Tag Team Championship. Nash later named Young one third of the champions under the Freebird rule. At the June 14 tapings of ''Impact!'' The Band was stripped of the Tag Team Championship, due to Hall's legal problems. The following day it was reported that Hall had been released from his contract with TNA.

Independent circuit (2010–present)

On May 3, 2010 Hall appeared at Continental Championship Wrestling with Ricky Ortiz and Syxx-Pac. Hall and Pac escorted Ortiz to the ring for his match with Navy Seal which Ortiz won. On November 7, 2010 Hall appeared at Vintage Pro Wrestling with Ricky Ortiz using the Wolfpac theme. On January 8, 2011 Scott Hall made an appearance at I Believe in Wrestling in Orlando and talked about his health before bringing out Ricky Ortiz for his match with "Hotshot" Mike Reed.

On April 8, 2011, the day after his rumored overdose, Hall made an appearance in Massachusetts where he showed up in very poor condition even still wearing a hospital bracelet. Things were so bad for Hall that he had to be helped down to the ring and into it because he was unable to walk on his own. Hall cut a promo in the ring and would later sign autographs. The crowd seemed surprised by his appearance especially since Hall a day before guaranteed they would get their money's worth by his appearance.

On June 4, 2011, Scott Hall returned to make an appearance along side with Santana Garrett, in an independent wrestling event.

On June 21, 2011 Scott Hall was sentenced to 10 days in Seminole County Jail, stemming from an arrest back in May 2010. Back in 2010, Hall was arrested after drunkenly yelling and cursing at patrons in a Florida bar. He was reportedly uncooperative with police, and was arrested for resisting arrest. Hall got sentenced to 10 days in jail, but the time ended up being reduced to 2 days for the time served.

Personal life

Hall married Dana Lee Burgio in 1990. The couple divorced in 1998, remarried in 1999, then divorced permanently in 2001. He has two children, a son, Cody Taylor (born in 1991), and a daughter, Cassidy (born in 1994).

August 24, 2009, Hall began his own internet show on YouTube, ''Last Call with Scott Hall''. Guests have included: Sid Vicious, Kevin Nash, Ricky Ortiz, Larry Zbyszko, and Sean Waltman.

Legal issues, battles with drugs/alcohol and health problems

On October 7, 1998, Dana wrote an open letter "to anyone who cares". In the letter, she admonished World Championship Wrestling and Eric Bischoff for not only failing to rehabilitate him but coming to the point where they were exploiting, humiliating, and even enabling him to continue his self-destructive behavior. She accused WCW of allowing Hall to perform while under the influence, and taking advantage of his real addictions to drugs and alcohol for profit and ratings. She called the angle "deplorable, disgusting, and inexcusable". She pleaded with WCW to discontinue the controversial angle for the sake of Hall's two children, whom she said he had no relationship with. She ended the letter by making a desperate plea to everyone to help Scott see his problems and "put himself in God's hands". She said Hall remained a very sick man and his addictions had destroyed his marriage, his future, and his children's future.

On October 10, 2008, Hall was arrested during a roast of the Iron Sheik held at a Crowne Plaza hotel in New Jersey, in which a comedian joked, ''"After The Sheik and Hacksaw Jim [Duggan] got caught snorting coke in the parking lot, his career fell faster than Owen Hart."'' An enraged Hall charged at the performer and knocked down a podium, then grabbed the microphone from him and yelled about how he was disrespecting Hart. The comedian described the incident on his MySpace page, adding that he loved Hart as a wrestler and a man and believed Hart would have laughed at the joke. He also claimed that Hall was drunk at the time of the attack.

Hall was arrested on May 14, 2010, and charged with disorderly conduct and resisting a police officer, according to ''The Orlando Sentinel''. Authorities were called to the Hitching Post Bar in Chuluota after Hall, who had been "drinking heavily" according to a police report, "became aggressive". When authorities arrived, they found Hall yelling and cursing at the amateur wrestling personalities Marc Grabowsky, Kevin "Showtime" Van Camp, Tony "ODB" Griffin, Shawn Shiever The Beaver Retreiver, and Mark E. Nelson and other staff of the bar. Hall was told he was not allowed to return to the establishment. On his police report, Hall listed himself as an "unemployed" professional wrestler, despite having a job with TNA Wrestling, who would release Hall a month after the arrest. After his release from TNA, Hall checked into a WWE sponsored rehab. Hall checked out of the rehab facility in early October 2010. Weeks after he checked into rehab, Hall had both a defibrillator and a pacemaker implanted into his heart. He was also hospitalized twice in 2010 for double pneumonia, which affected both lungs.

Hall was the only member of The Kliq not on hand to see longtime friend, Shawn Michaels inducted to the WWE Hall Of Fame and decided to not attend any of the Wrestlemania XXVII festivities due to concerns of remaining sober in that type of atmosphere. Hall posted on his Twitter page during the Wrestlemania event, "Taker wins!" which was in reference to The Undertaker winning his match over Triple H, one of Hall's closest friends in the business. Wrestler, CM Punk, who is known for living a Straight Edge lifestyle praised Hall for his deicision not to attend the Wrestlemania events because it could hurt his sobriety.

On April 7, 2011, Hall was reportedly taken to the hospital due to drug overdose, though Hall's representative quickly responded that the info was untrue and fabricated saying that Hall was at home and doing fine that day. Hall's rep said that he was however in the hospital for low blood pressure and a change to his blood pressure medication. His rep said that Scott visits his doctor on a regular basis and is still recovering from his double pneumonia and being treated for his heart.

Hall gave an interview on April 7 discussing an appearance at an independent wrestling show for the following day, and went on to say that the fans who bought tickets would get their money's worth. He discussed his problems with his vices by saying "while alcohol and drugs are fun, when you want to quit you can't, and it hurts everyone that is close to you". Hall stated that he has been to rehab 19 times and attended thousands of AA and NA meetings, but that this time he was making an honest attempt to stay sober. Hall credited close friends such as Kevin Nash, Sean Waltman, and Shawn Michaels with helping him through his battles.

On April 8, 2011, one day after his rumored overdose, Hall showed up clearly intoxicated to his appearance at a Top Rope Promotions wrestling show in Massachusetts. Things were so bad that Hall, who was still wearing a hospital bracelet, had to be helped into the ring by two men because he was unable to walk on his own. Hall proceeded to cut a promo and was confronted by a local wrestler named Gorgeous Gino Giovanni, who was trying to begin a match with Justin Credible. Most of the fans were confused by his behavior, while some understood what was happening and proceeded to heckle Hall to the point where he yelled back at the crowd. Unfortunately, Scott was apparently so impaired that he thought he was in England instead of New England, and called the crowd a bunch of ''Wankers'', which is an English insult. After the match between Giovanni and Credible ended, Hall, who was still slurring, tried to goad Giovanni to come back into the ring. Former wrestler, Scotty 2 Hotty was at the show and said seeing Hall in that condition was one of the saddest, most embarrassing things he has ever witnessed, and asked how many people have to die before they learn. After the event, Hall was onhand for autograph signings and was clearly still intoxicated.

TMZ reported on April 9, 2011, that Hall was taken to the hospital following his appearance at an indy wrestling show in Massachusetts a day earlier. Hall is being treated for his cardiac issues and will remain in the hospital for at least three days. Hall is reported to be on ten different medications, which TMZ reports led to his overdose on April 7, although his agent quickly denied that report.

Top Rope Promotions released a statement on April 11, 2011 regarding Hall's behavior and performance at their April 8 show. 31 year old owner Steve Ricard said that Hall arrived the day before the event in a wheelchair with 3 bottles of prescription pills in his possession though the following day he showed in the state he was in demanding appearance fee although he was already paid. Hall made many threats to the staff and made many demands about money and when he would perform. According to Ricard, Hall was threatening to "kill me if I 'screwed' him over."

Longtime friend, Kevin Nash commented on Hall's recent problems saying that he will always be there for Hall. Nash also claimed that Hall is not a drug addict but rather that he suffers from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and that Hall has been using drugs and alcohol as a crutch. Eric Bischoff, another one of Hall's close friends and former boss said he wished he knew how to help him saying he was an amazing talent and deep down a great person but his demons were killing him.

On May 8 another incident took place following a conversation with his ex-wife Dana. After a call where he reportedly came to terms with the fact he doesn't have long to live the call ended abruptly. Dana alerted the authorities and Hall allegedly got into a physical altercation with them when they arrived. Following this Dana cut off all remaining ties with Hall. Kevin Nash made a statement later that day reiterating his support for Hall.

In wrestling

Finishing moves

''Hall Buster'' (Bulldog) – 1980s; used as a regular move thereafter

''Outsider's Edge'' (WCW / Independent circuit / TNA) ''Razor's Edge'' (WWF / independent circuit) / ''Diamond Death Drop'' (WCW) (Crucifix powerbomb) – innovated

Signature moves

Abdominal stretch

Belly to back suplex, sometimes from the second rope

Chokeslam

Diving bulldog

Fallaway slam, sometimes from the second rope

Multiple slaps to the back of the opponent head

Sleeper hold

Two or three punches followed by a discus punch

Wrist-lock followed by multiple shoulder blocks

*Dusty Rhodes

*Louie Spicolli

*Syxx

*Vincent

Nicknames

*"The Bad Guy"

*"The Lone Wolf"

Entrance themes

*"Bad Guy" by Jim Johnston (WWF; 1992–1996)

*"Rockhouse" by Frank Shelley (WCW / WWF; used while a part of the New World Order)

*"Kevin Nash / Wolfpac Theme" by J.Hart (WCW)

*"Ready Or Not" by The Fugees (ECW and Independent circuits)

*"Marvelous Me" by Dale Oliver (TNA)

*"The Band Theme" by Dale Oliver (TNA; Used while part of The Band)

*"Kevin Nash / Wolfpac Theme (Instrumental)" by J.Hart (TNA; Used while part of The Band)

Championships and accomplishments

American Wrestling Association

AWA World Tag Team Championship (1 time) – with Curt Hennig

Pro Wrestling Illustrated

PWI Match of the Year (1994) vs. Shawn Michaels in a Ladder match at WrestleMania X

PWI Most Improved Wrestler of the Year (1992)

PWI Tag Team of the Year (1997) with Kevin Nash

PWI ranked him #7 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the year in the PWI 500 in 1994

PWI ranked him #72 of the top 500 singles wrestlers of the "PWI Years" in 2003

PWI ranked him #40 of the Top 100 Tag Teams of the "PWI Years" with Kevin Nash in 2003

Total Nonstop Action Wrestling

*TNA World Tag Team Championship ([[List of TNA World Tag Team Champions|1

time]])¹ – with Kevin Nash and Eric Young

United States Wrestling Association

USWA Unified World Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

World Championship Wrestling

WCW United States Heavyweight Championship (2 times)

WCW World Tag Team Championship (7 times) – with Kevin Nash (6) and The Giant (1)

WCW World Television Championship (1 time)

WCW World War 3 (1997)

World Wrestling Council

WWC Caribbean Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

WWC Universal Heavyweight Championship (1 time)

World Wrestling Federation

WWF Intercontinental Championship (4 times)

*Slammy Award for US Best Match of the Year (1996) vs. Shawn Michaels at SummerSlam 1995

Wrestling Observer Newsletter awards

*5 Star Match (1994) vs. Shawn Michaels in Ladder Match On WrestleMania X

*Match of the Year (1994) vs. Shawn Michaels in a Ladder match at WrestleMania X

¹Hall defended the title with either Nash or Young under the Freebird Rule.

References

External links

Online World of Wrestling profile

Category:1958 births Category:American professional wrestlers Category:Living people Category:People from Florida Category:Military brats

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