Athelets and Drugs - Term Paper Example

Athletes and Drugs Introduction Recreational drugs, both legal and illegal, are used by members of every social group. They are used by rich and poor, young and old, and by members of every race and religious group. Athletes are no exception, and drug use in the "sports world" is widespread. In this paper I will talk about some of the most common used drugs in sports, why athletes use them, and how to stop the problem of drug use. Drugs Used by Athletes a. Steroids One of the most prevalent drugs abused in athletes today is steroids, which are also referred to as "juice, gear, or roids". "Although they have legitimate medical uses, steroids are increasingly being used by individuals as a way to quickly build up muscle and increase strength"(Goldberg, 316). Anabolic steroids or anabolic-androgenic steroids are derived from naturally occurring testosterone (male anabolic hormone). Both androgenic and anabolic steroids have their origins in the Greek words means "masculinize." They are used by athletes who want to build up body muscle, for weightlifting, football, and any other sport that require explosive amounts of strength" (Mohun, 21). Steroids use are illegal and banned by most, if not all, major sports and organizations. If a participant is caught using steroids they can be suspended, fined, or even expelled from their particular sport. So why do athletes take this explosive drug you ask? "First, it involves certain personality traits found in many athletes, especially in those who desire, above everything else, to be champions. Second, it has to do with a number of pressures exerted by the sports world on modern competitors" (Dolan, 35). Examples of Steroids Abuse in Sports Professional Athletes have a huge influence on other athletes and their fans. Mark McGwire, a retired professional baseball player, openly admitted to taking androstenedione during his record breaking season. Few years back, NFL linebacker Brian Bosworth tested positive for steroids and was banned from playing in a championship college game. He claimed that taking steroids are safe, once it is in small amounts (Nardo, 28). Numerous retired baseball players, such as Ken Caminiti, are coming forward in the news stating that steroid use is widespread in major league baseball. These are men who us "regular Joes" look up to and idolize and if they are saying its okay to use steroids then that makes fans and young kids think it is okay too. Side effects of Steroids Some of the side effects of steroids include "shrinking of the testes, increased acne, loss of hair, extreme aggressiveness, liver damage, high blood pressure, prostate problems, and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke due to an elevation in LDL levels" (Sallis, 131). But there are also women who use steroids as well. "Their side effects consist of deepened voice, rougher skin, extreme aggressiveness, mustache darkens, baldness may occur, and all the heart and organ problems that men are susceptible to" (Dolan, 31). b. Amphetamines and Cocaine Another drug used in sports is Amphetamines, which are classified as stimulant drugs because they instill that same sense of well-being (Dolan, 45). These stimulants include a whole range of substances, from caffeine, through amphetamines to cocaine. All these substances stimulate the body, mentally and physically. Cocaine is one of the most widely publicized recreational drugs. "The National Institute on Drug Abuse estimates that about six million Americans use cocaine on a regular basis"(Nardo, 55). This number includes people in all professions from professional sports to police officers. But, professional athletes who use the drug both for recreation and as an energy booster before games have been hit unusually hard by the drug. "Seemingly indestructible heroes have been brought to their knees," says William Gildea, a sportswriter for the Washington Post. Example of cocaine abuser athlete Bethea was the number one draft choice of the late nineteenth century. Before end of his career, Bethea was using cocaine often, and his life was beginning to fall apart. His cocaine use showed in his lack of effort on the field and he was benched as a result. Soon after he began freebasing cocaine. At last, he no longer could played football due to the drug, he returned to his hometown and moved in with his mother. Not long afterwards, he was arrested for stealing sixty-four thousand dollars from his own mom. Later on, Bethea stole a .38-calibur handgun and held up two local stores. The clerks recognized him immediately because of his popularity, and was found the next day in a well know drug area in a pool of his own blood. Larry Bethea, had shot himself in the head (Nardo, 56). Stories like Larry Bethea may seem farfetched, but in today's world of cocaine addiction is becoming more and more common. Cocaine is a habit forming stimulant and has many similarities to amphetamines, except the "high" is much shorter lasting less than one hour. Cocaine has become known as the drug of the eighties and it kills. Basketball star Len Bias died, from a heart attack during a basketball game triggered by cocaine. Amphetamines, like cocaine, make you numb to pain so that a competitor could play fiercer, jump higher, run longer and tackle harder (Mohun, 19). Effects of using Cocaine Cocaine is a stimulant and can make a person feel awake and alert and produce feelings of brief exhilaration, or pleasurable excitement. To maintain cocaine "high" the user must repeatedly ingest the drug intake more and more each time. Some people can become cocaine addicts after only a few days of repeated use, while others take longer to get hooked, but the fact is any use will lead to addiction eventually. William Gildea describes the use of cocaine by some athletes as " a nightmare of physical suffering, depression and paranoia, craving cocaine more than life itself....Once they had fame, fortune, secure futures. Now all that is left is shattered lives-and sometimes not even that"(Nardo, 55). Steroids and cocaine are the drugs that seem to get the most attention in the media but there are a lot of drugs that tend to get ignored. Consider nicotine and alcohol which are the most widely consumed legal drugs in the United States. Nicotine is found in tobacco products such as cigarettes, cigars, chew or snuff, and a powdered form of tobacco that is actually sniffed (Nardo, 67). Some common knowledge side effects of nicotine are cancer, heart disease, emphysema and it is accountable for more than one thousand deaths per day in the United States (Nardo, 68). Alcohol, the other commonly used drug, is classified as a depressant because it depresses, or slows the functions of the brain and nervous system. "Alcohol is the most abused drug in the United States(Nardo, 46)." Alcoholism is a serious health problem in many countries throughout the world. "The number of people with an addiction to alcohol surpasses the number of addicts of any other drug(Goldberg, 190)." Explanations So what would make an athlete take steroids? The reasons athletes themselves give for taking drugs are varied. Some cite peer pressure, if a lot of teammates are using the drug, other members might take the drug to fit in (Nardo, 14). The problem of steroid use involves not only the athletes but coaches and parents as well. One physical education coordinator described the situation: "Coaches who are looking for bulk and don't know the effects of steroids are recommending them. Parents go along because a coach tells them their kid will be a strapping six footer and will have a great shot at getting a scholarship (Nardo, 32)." Society places much emphasis on winning, and to come out on top, many individuals are willing to make sacrifices, one that may entail compromising their health. Some athletes will do anything for the sake of winning (Goldberg, 316). Generally media television, movies, and magazines are being blamed for the upraise in young men and women using steroids and other drugs, licit and illicit. It is almost impossible to turn on the television or read a magazine without seeing models or super actors who are fit and in shape or who are huge with muscle on muscle. Advertisements on billboards and in magazines manipulate people into thinking "this is how you’re supposed to look!", and that they need to look a certain way in order to fit into society. It is no wonder why so many young men and women are turning to steroids to have the body they long desire. I think that no matter how old a person is or how much education they have, everyone is influenced by some kind of pressure. For most people, the pressure they are influenced by is harmless. It may be choosing Burger King over McDonalds because of a commercial they were influenced by, but for others they might be pressured into taking cocaine or steroids, or some other harmful drug. In my research I did find a study that suggests there is some good to the use of cocaine. It states that "taking steroids along with antibiotics can prevent brain damage and even death in some meningitis patients (Shephard, 301)." Meningitis is an infection of the fluid around the brain and spinal cord which can be triggered by viruses and bacteria. Conclusion When an athlete uses drugs, they not only blemish the name of sports and risk their health, they also risk suspension and expulsion from competitions, and having previous prizes, medals, and records taken away. Many different classes of drugs have been banned from sports by the IOC, which governs the Olympic Games. The first time competitors were tested for drug misuse at the Olympic games was in 1968, and since then testing has been done at all Olympic games and all major international events. The only way to stop the use of illicit drugs in national sports is to test, test, and test some more. It has been believed that Major League Baseball has an abundance of steroid users and the fact that the players "don't want to be tested because it is against their rights" just shows how guilty they are. Works Cited Dolan, Edward F. (1999) Drugs in Sports. New York: Franklin Watts. 40- 50 Goldberg, Raymond. (2004) Taking Sides, Clashing views on controversial issues in drugs and society. Connecticut: Dushkin publishing.300- 340 Kirschenbaum, D. S. (2004). Self-regulation of sport performance. Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, 106-113. Mohun, Janet. (2004) Drugs, Steroids, and Sports. New York: Franklin Watts. 10- 25 Nardo, Don. (2005) Drugs and Sports. California: Lucent books. Steroid can help meningitis patients. Sallis, J. F., & McKenzie, T. L. (1999). Physical education's role in public health. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 124-137. Shephard, R. J. (2003). Physical activity, health, and well-being at different life stages. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport, 298-302. Wadler, Gary I. (2000) Cocaine abuse in Sports. Indianapolis: American College of Medicine. Read More