Mike ‘Sugar Bear’ Thompson is turning to his friend Lamar Odom for help with his addiction woes.
The 51-year-old reality star has reached out to the 43-year-old former Los Angeles Laker to secure a spot at one of his drug and rehabilitation centers, TMZ reported on Thursday.
The news comes amid sources claiming that Sugar Bear is estranged from his daughter Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo‘ Thompson, though it’s unclear if his addiction struggles are connected to their issues.
Sugar Bear is reaching out for help after Alana was seen reuniting with her mother ‘Mama’ June Shannon for their first hug in ‘five or six years’ on the latest episode of Mama June: Family Crisis.
Sources close to her father told the publication that he had contacted Odom over the weekend to inquire about being admitted to one of his treatment centers.
Getting help: Mike ‘Sugar Bear’ Thompson (L) is set to check into a rehab facility in Kanas owned by Lamar Odom after struggling with addiction issues, TMZ reported on Thursday; seen in 2013 with ‘Mama’ June Shannon
Celebrity pal: He had befriended Odom after being introduced to him by their manager, and he reportedly reached out to the former NBA star over the weekend to secure a spot at one of his rehab facilities; seen in December 2021 in LA
Thompson, who lives in Georgia, will reportedly check into the closet location of Odom’s growing empire of treatment facilities, the Gold Bridge Treatment Center in Louisburg, Kansas.
He’s set to arrive on Thursday evening.
Sources claim that Thompson’s addiction battle originated from his struggles with diabetes, which have been chronicled on Alana and June’s reality shows.
He has reportedly become addicted to some of the prescription medications he takes as part of his treatment for diabetes, though it’s unclear which drugs they are or what they were intended to treat.
The reality fixture has also struggled with ‘severe anxiety and depression,’ which can both make one more susceptible to addiction and drug abuse, or make the conditions worse. They can also be brought on by drug abuse.
Sources said that Thompson suffered a setback a month ago when his girlfriend ended their relationship, which has been affecting him ever since.
They also told the publication that Sugar Bear hopes to repair his relationship with his daughter Alana after graduating from rehab.
She has famously had difficult personal experience with addiction after her mother June Shannon became addicted to illegal drugs in recent years amid a self-destructive relationship with her ex-boyfriend Geno Doak.
In May of this year, she exclusively spoke with DailyMail.com to share her regrets about the low period in which she spent more than $1 million on cocaine.
When reflecting on what she would say to herself while she had been at her lowest point with her substance abuse, Mama June stated: ‘Girl, what the hell are you doing spending all that d*** money?’
She continued: ‘I say that a lot to my husband [Justin Stroud]. I would be like, “Man, why in the hell did I blow all that money?” I am always thinking about that.
‘I think about a lot of things I could do with that money. My husband tells me all the time that I can’t dwell on it.’
The reality star explained that she often has moments where she hates herself over things she did during her darkest days.
‘I don’t remember like a lot of that time frame. Just bits and pieces and stuff,’ she stated. ‘But the biggest, stupidest thing I’ve done is spend that much money on drugs.’
Professional help: Thompson, who lives in Georgia, will reportedly check into the closet location of Odom’s growing empire of treatment facilities, the Gold Bridge Treatment Center in Louisburg, Kansas (pictured)
Medical issues: Thompson reportedly got addicted to prescription meds used as part of his diabetes treatment. He also struggles with anxiety and depression; seen with Lauryn ‘Pumpkin’ Thompson, Alana ‘Honey Boo Boo’ Thompson and June Shannon in 2015
One parent after another: Thompson also hopes to repair his relationship with his estranged daughter Alana. She has already struggled with her mother June’s addiction in recent years, though she is now three years sober; seen in 2015 in LA
The TV star proudly stated she has now ensured she is much better with her earnings, adding: ‘Now I’ve gone back to being like penny pinching, and Justin tells me I’m a money hoarder.’
During her addiction, Mama June was spending up to $3,000 per day on drugs.
According to the star, she mostly snorted cocaine until it damaged her vision, at which point she switched to smoking crack cocaine.
However, June has since been sober for three years, and she has been documenting her attempts to repair her relationships with her daughter on her reality series Mama June: Road To Redemption.
