West Coast star Ben Cousins has a drug problem, his father confirmed on Thursday night.

Bryan Cousins, a former VFL player and father and manager of the suspended Eagle, said his son's problem related to "substance abuse".

West Coast has suspended Cousins indefinitely so he can deal with personal problems, but had not confirmed the former captain had a drug problem.

Bryan Cousins read a prepared statement out on Network Ten in Perth.

"I am making this statement today not on behalf of Ben, but as a father on behalf of his son," he said.

"We are working closely with Ben and I have been with him today and he has told me in due course he will make his own statement.

"Ben's problem relates to substance abuse and he faces a great challenge.

"Our family understands that this is a problem faced by so many other Australian families.

"We are also aware that there is no simple answer to the problem and in the process of overcoming it, there are going to be obstacles and hurdles, some of which we may stumble at.

"I would also like to say that we have been overwhelmed by the support that has been extended to both Ben and to our family.

"We acknowledge the public scrutiny that comes with the opportunities and privileges that Ben has had, but I ask now with the issues that Ben faces, that my son be given the privacy and the opportunity that he needs to deal with this problem.

"I particularly ask that of the media.

"Ben, you are not alone with this challenge.

"Your family, your friends, your fans and your footy club want you to overcome this issue and win in the same manner in which you have done throughout your whole career."

Bryan Cousins said he wanted to say something to dispel mistruths being said about his son.

"Some of the things that have been suggested are totally inappropriate and not accurate and I just felt that it was in the interests of him, his family, his footy club and so many people that have supported him over the years that I say something," he told the Seven Network.

"It (football) is probably not the foremost issue in my mind. When someone has a health issue of any significance I think your first objective is to get them healthy again.

"When that comes all the opportunities that Ben has had in the past will be there again for him.

"I think every parent when your children are growing up, and we have four, you are aware of issues I refer to as community problems.

"I think you all think `It won't happen to one of my children', and when they become involved in any sort of activity that is of concern to you, it does jolt you and I think you have just got to remain aware that the opportunities are there and this is not an issue that is going to go away."

Cousins' mother Stephanie said: "We love Ben and he is the same person.

"Some of the things are untrue and he's made not the right judgments in some things but we are with him all the way and hope he can overcome them."

West Coast chief executive said Bryan Cousins had shown enormous courage by admitting his son had a problem.

"Other people probably wouldn't have shown that courage," Nisbett said.

"I think it has been an outstanding decision and I think the AFL should probably now realise that it is a little deeper than they originally thought and certainly deeper than we thought.

"We do everything we think is the right thing, particularly with player welfare.

"It's a major part of our football club as it is with all clubs in the AFL, but in this case we failed.

"We were unsuccessful in assisting Ben and therefore a stance had to be made and hopefully the family and Ben ... will try and fix this."

Nisbett said the Cousins saga would help the AFL readdress drug-testing procedures.

"I think they will readdress them," he said.

"Whether that will go down too well with the players or the AFLPA (AFL Players Association) I am not sure, but certainly it needs to be addressed so that we are more informed.

"Rather than probably guesswork or insinuation or innuendo we would actually know if we have any problems in our club."

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