A father who used to spend £1,500 on weekend drug binges is now sober for the first time in 18 years, thanks to ice bath therapy. Lewis Milton, 36, from Dagenham, Essex, began gambling and drinking at age 18 with football friends. He quickly became addicted, spending £3,000 in just a few days on gambling, alcohol, and drugs.
Lewis, a former recruitment account manager, stole his parents' credit cards and pawned his grandmother's jewelry to fund his habits. Despite trying to quit at least 15 times, he always relapsed, cycling through jobs and losing thousands of pounds. Over the years, he was arrested for aggressive behavior, hospitalized with liver damage, suffered from rotting teeth, and ended up homeless after relationships with family and friends broke down.
Turning Point: Cold Water Therapy
In 2025, Lewis learned about cold water therapy as a form of addiction support. He decided to try it and now credits his six-degree Celsius ice bath in his backyard for helping him stay sober. The shock reduces his anxiety and grounds him. Lewis has been clean for over 100 days and says, "I was destroying my body—I feel lucky to have another chance in life."
His addiction began with trips to the pub and casino with friends, leading to weekend cocaine use and gambling. Soon, it became a daily necessity. He once won £5,000 from a £20 bet but lost it all within two hours. His father once had to pay £2,500 to a dealer who threatened to kill Lewis if he didn't repay a debt.
Multiple Attempts at Sobriety
Lewis first attended Gamblers Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous at age 24. He managed 88 days of sobriety but relapsed with a seven-day binge. His marijuana use made him angry and aggressive, leading to police involvement. He spent little time with his daughter, born in April 2024, due to his addiction.
In June 2025, he was hospitalized with liver damage, a hernia, and jaundice. He was also banned from his football ground for bringing in drugs. His turning point came when he saw a video of Wim Hof on Instagram and tried ice plunging. His father gifted him a plunge pool for Christmas 2025, and he attended Fellowship meetings in January 2026.
Life Today
Lewis has been sober since January 30, 2026. He sees his two-year-old daughter regularly, has dentures for his broken teeth, eats healthily, and maintains a healthy weight. He does a five-minute daily ice plunge to keep cravings at bay. He is still paying off £10,000 in debts but feels proud of his progress. "My life is so different—I get goosebumps thinking about it," he said.
