Lamar Odom suggests Liam Payne may have been ‘hearing voices’ as he draws from own struggles with drugs

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Former NBA player Lamar Odom opened up to TMZ about his experience with harmful drugs on Monday, October 21, after the toxicology report of deceased singer Liam Payne was released, showing a deadly combination of substances in his system.

A former member of the boy band One Direction, Payne fell to his death from a hotel balcony in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on October 16. The toxicology report revealed the presence of a strong drug cocktail called 'pink cocaine' inside him.

As a recovering addict, Odom sympathized with the singer as he admitted his own struggles with addiction during an interview with TMZ.

What is 'pink cocaine'?

The toxicology report by the Argentine authorities found a number of drugs in Liam Payne's system, including a cocktail commonly known as 'pink cocaine'. It is a potent blend of ketamine, methamphetamine, and ecstasy.

A fan wrote of the substance on the social media platform X, "‘Pink cocaine’ is basically a mixture of hallucinogenic drugs. In the moment of his death, he REALLY couldn’t tell reality from illusions…he NEEDED help not to be sent up to his room…this is heartbreaking.”

Odom reportedly admitted to TMZ about having experience with the drugs. According to him, it could lead to dangerous mental states, such as hallucinations, auditory delusions, and overall disorientation, and may have contributed to the singer falling to his death.

"If you hear voices, it is harder to escape," he shared. 

His insights are in line with the theory held by the Buenos Aires police, who believe that Payne suffered the fatal fall in a drug-induced state.

Lamar Odom calls for an increase in awareness

The two-time NBA Champion presently leads the Odom Recovery Group, where he tries to use his personal experience to help others on their way to sobriety, reported Heavy.

Saddened by Payne's death, Odom hoped that the tragedy would serve as a critical reminder to Hollywood about the dangers of substance abuse. Payne's return to using drugs after staying sober earlier this year highlighted the ongoing struggle that addicts face, he shared.

Odom suffered a near-fatal drug overdose in 2015. As such, he related to the tragedy of the singer and hoped that the incident would provide the opportunity to reach out to others who are undergoing a similar struggle.