Athletes and DrugsAthletes and Drugs

Nick BromleyNick Bromley

English 4English 4

MagnetMagnet

Brief IntroductionBrief IntroductionMajor issues in sports todayMajor issues in sports today

-- Unfair Advantages that are gainedUnfair Advantages that are gained

- Serious health issues to elite athletes- Serious health issues to elite athletes

- Media Attention/Role Model Image- Media Attention/Role Model Image

Goes against the ethical principles of Goes against the ethical principles of sporting competitionsporting competition

Highly spread among athletesHighly spread among athletes

My Stance on the IssueMy Stance on the Issue I am completely against the use of drugs by I am completely against the use of drugs by

athletes in any sport whether an American Sport athletes in any sport whether an American Sport or International Sport such as the Olympic Events.or International Sport such as the Olympic Events.

Thesis: Drug use is a major issue in sports and Thesis: Drug use is a major issue in sports and needs to be cracked down upon because they are needs to be cracked down upon because they are giving players unfair advantages, hurting the giving players unfair advantages, hurting the athletes’ own health, and are damaging the athletes’ own health, and are damaging the image of role models and their sport itself.image of role models and their sport itself.

Drugs Commonly UsedDrugs Commonly UsedTherapeutic DrugsTherapeutic Drugs

- - Over-the-Counter, diuretics, beta-blockers, etc.Over-the-Counter, diuretics, beta-blockers, etc.

Performance-Enhancing DrugsPerformance-Enhancing Drugs

- - Amphetamines, ephedrine, caffeine, anabolic Amphetamines, ephedrine, caffeine, anabolic steroids, growth hormones, etc.steroids, growth hormones, etc.

Typical DrugsTypical Drugs

- - Alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, etc.Alcohol, nicotine, marijuana, cocaine, etc.

Brief HistoryBrief HistoryAncient CivilizationsAncient Civilizations-- Mushrooms, herbs, liquorMushrooms, herbs, liquor

1919thth Century Century- Alcohol, caffeine, nitroglycerine, opium, - Alcohol, caffeine, nitroglycerine, opium, strychnine, trimethylstrychnine, trimethyl

World War IIWorld War II- Amphetamines, testosterone- Amphetamines, testosterone

Athletes’ InfluenceAthletes’ InfluenceThe belief that their fellow competitors take themThe belief that their fellow competitors take them

Determination to WinDetermination to Win

Pressure from coaches and peersPressure from coaches and peers

Community attitudes and expectationsCommunity attitudes and expectations

Financial RewardsFinancial Rewards

Media InfluenceMedia Influence

Belief of enhanced performanceBelief of enhanced performance

Therapeutic Drug EffectsTherapeutic Drug EffectsSports used in: Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Shooters, Sports used in: Boxing, Wrestling, Judo, Shooters,

Ski Jumpers, ArcherySki Jumpers, Archery

Rapid Weight LossRapid Weight Loss

DehydrationDehydration

HypotensionHypotension

Muscle crampsMuscle cramps

Electrolyte ImbalanceElectrolyte Imbalance

Negative effect on enduranceNegative effect on endurance

Overall Negative Impact on PerformanceOverall Negative Impact on Performance

Performance-Enhancing Drug EffectsPerformance-Enhancing Drug EffectsSports used in: Baseball, football, track and field, sprinting, Sports used in: Baseball, football, track and field, sprinting,

weight lifting, hockeyweight lifting, hockey

Unfair EffectsUnfair Effects-delay fatigue-delay fatigue-increase alertness-increase alertness-enhance speed-enhance speed-power-power-endurance-endurance-concentration-concentration-increase in muscle mass-increase in muscle mass-decrease in fat mass-decrease in fat mass

Health EffectsHealth Effects-vomiting-vomiting-abdominal pain-abdominal pain-cardiac damage-cardiac damage-acne-acne-infertility-infertility-heart attacks-heart attacks-high blood pressure-high blood pressure-cancer-cancer-tendon rupture-tendon rupture-baldness-baldness-delayed growth-delayed growth-enlargement of heart-enlargement of heart

Typical Drugs of MisuseTypical Drugs of MisuseAlcoholAlcohol-Most common-Most common

-Negative impact on reaction time, hand-eye coordination, -Negative impact on reaction time, hand-eye coordination, balance, strength. Excessive heat production and balance, strength. Excessive heat production and dehydration.dehydration.

CocaineCocaine-Minimal effect on performance-Minimal effect on performance

-Increases alertness-Increases alertness

-Increase risk of injury-Increase risk of injury

Typical Drug Misuse Typical Drug Misuse (cont.)(cont.)

MarijuanaMarijuana-Most frequent illegal drug used in the U.S.-Most frequent illegal drug used in the U.S.

-Initial use starts in high school-Initial use starts in high school

-Male athletes have higher occurrence of this drug than -Male athletes have higher occurrence of this drug than non-athletic peers (opposite for females)non-athletic peers (opposite for females)

NicotineNicotine-Majority use in the form of smokeless tobacco-Majority use in the form of smokeless tobacco

-Greater amount of male athletes use this over females-Greater amount of male athletes use this over females

-52% of baseball players and 26% of varsity football players -52% of baseball players and 26% of varsity football players use smokeless tobacco in a California Survey taken in the use smokeless tobacco in a California Survey taken in the early 1990’searly 1990’s

PreventionPreventionDrug TestingDrug Testing

-Common in amateur and professional sports-Common in amateur and professional sports

-65% of college athletes agree to testing-65% of college athletes agree to testing

-37% agreed that positive test results should result in -37% agreed that positive test results should result in disqualification of their sportdisqualification of their sport

-67% of college athletes believe that drug testing decreases -67% of college athletes believe that drug testing decreases drug usedrug use

Drug ProgramsDrug ProgramsAdministered by leagues and associations (NBA, Administered by leagues and associations (NBA, NFL,NCAA, NHL, MLB, etc.)NFL,NCAA, NHL, MLB, etc.)

Keys to successful drug programs:Keys to successful drug programs:-exclusion of all involved participants-exclusion of all involved participants-reliable and sensitive testing program-reliable and sensitive testing program-consistent discipline-consistent discipline-evaluation of effectiveness-evaluation of effectiveness-confidentiality-confidentiality-early prevention-early prevention

Some ObstaclesSome Obstacles

Most drugs are not prescribedMost drugs are not prescribed

Athletes see easy successAthletes see easy success

Easy access to drugsEasy access to drugs

Doctors not monitoring side effectsDoctors not monitoring side effects

SummarySummaryAthletes and drug use dates back to Athletes and drug use dates back to ancient timesancient timesSeveral factors as to why athletes Several factors as to why athletes use drugsuse drugsTypes of drugs used range from Types of drugs used range from performance-enhancing, therapeutic, performance-enhancing, therapeutic, and typicaland typicalPrograms are in place to help Programs are in place to help prevent drug use in sportsprevent drug use in sports