The Influence of Drugs on Athletes

Defining Drugs

Chemical substances that affect the functioning of the human body are referred to as drugs. Although numerous drugs are employed for medical purposes, there exist certain substances used in sports, commonly referred to as doping, which serve purposes other than their medicinal value.

Reasons for Athletes Using Drugs

Athletes resort to drug use for several primary reasons, which are categorized as follows:

• PED - Performance Enhancing Drugs
• PAIN - Pain Killers
• POOR MENTAL HEALTH - Inability to Handle Pressure
• LIFESTYLE - Recreational or Social Drugs

The use of drugs by athletes, regardless of the motive, can be dangerous when used inappropriately. Such abuse not only jeopardizes their careers but also poses risks to their lives.

PED - Performance Enhancing Drugs

Athletes turn to drugs for diverse reasons, especially in pursuit of gaining a competitive edge through performance-enhancing substances. The prevalence of drug use in sports is more significant than commonly believed. Athletes face immense pressure to excel, leading some to resort to performance-enhancing drugs. Additionally, some drugs can reduce injury recovery time, enabling athletes to train harder and longer. Prominent professional athletes, such as Lance Armstrong, Tyson Gay, and Ben Johnson, have been involved in the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

PAIN - Pain Killers

Athletes often use drugs to alleviate pain caused by injuries sustained during sports activities. Many sports can result in severe injuries that require painkillers for management. Unfortunately, when these injuries become chronic and athletes attempt to continue playing despite the pain, drug abuse may ensue. It is important to note that painkillers can be addictive, leading to serious problems. Examples of professional athletes who have abused painkillers include Derek Boogaard, Erika Blasberg, and Rob Van Dam. Commonly used painkillers include narcotic analgesics such as Morphine, Heroin, and Codeine.

Mental Health Issues

Athletes may turn to drugs or alcohol as a means of coping with the intense pressure and occasional loneliness associated with their careers. Given the constant scrutiny they face, it is not uncommon for athletes to experience various mental health disorders. Some professional athletes who have struggled with poor mental health, along with substance abuse, include David Freese, Brandon Marshall, and Frank Bruno. Additional side effects of drug abuse can include overheating, crashing, liver and brain damage, as well as violent and aggressive behavior.

Social Recreational & Lifestyle

For athletes leading a lifestyle of luxury and fame, recreational drug use may become a part of their routine. The party atmosphere and bad habits from their teenage years can sometimes persist into adulthood. Examples of athletes who have used drugs recreationally include Lawrence Taylor, Len Bias, Dock Ellis, Andre Agassi, and Dwight Gooden. Common recreational drugs include depressants such as marijuana and cannabis, as well as stimulants like cocaine, cigarettes, cigars, and other nicotine products.

Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol can have several negative effects on athletes, including reduced coordination, slower reaction time, poor balance, dehydration, lower muscle glycogen levels, slower removal of lactic acid, rapid loss of heat, longer injury recovery time, reduced artery size, poor judgment, nausea, vomiting, and impaired liver function.

Effects of Cigarettes

Cigarette smoking can lead to reduced lung efficiency, decreased oxygen-carrying ability, lower fitness levels, lower resistance to illness, raised blood pressure, decreased life expectancy, and increased risk of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Blood Doping

Blood doping, a method used to increase the number of red blood cells, can have negative effects on athletes. These include overloading the cardiovascular system, increased blood pressure, kidney failure, and transmission of diseases such as AIDS.

WADA - World Anti-Doping Agency

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) follows a specific process to detect drug use in sports. The process involves selecting competitors, directing them to a doping station, collecting urine and blood samples, splitting the samples into separate sealed containers, sending the samples to labs, conducting further investigations in case of positive results, and holding hearings by the respective sport governing body.

Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids are substances that promote muscle growth, increase muscle and bone mass, reduce body fat, and accelerate recovery time after injuries. However, their use can lead to liver damage, liver cancer, heart disease, aggression, mood swings, baldness, infertility, breast growth in males, and hair growth on the face, deep voice, and menstrual cycle interference in females.

Human Growth Hormone

Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is produced naturally in the pituitary gland but can also be synthesized in laboratories. It regulates body composition, body fluids, increases muscle mass, and enhances red blood cell count. However, prolonged use of HGH can result in heart disease, enlarged heart, kidney and liver issues, swelling of limbs, joint pains, and other adverse effects.

Erythropoietin

Erythropoietin stimulates the production of red blood cells in the bone marrow, increasing hemoglobin levels and oxygen-carrying capacity in the blood. However, using erythropoietin can thicken the blood, leading to heart disease, blood clots, and an elevated risk of stroke.

Relaxants

Athletes may use relaxants to reduce tension and induce a calming effect. While they can help manage stress during competitions, relaxants may also impair vision, decrease balance and coordination, lower blood pressure, cause fatigue, depression, drowsiness, and other side effects.

Stimulants

Stimulants are substances that speed up the nervous system, enhance reaction time, increase alertness, confidence, and energy levels, and reduce pain to mask fatigue. However, using stimulants can result in panic attacks, anxiety, seizures, headaches, aggression, and other harmful effects.

Christopher Seebaran (PC)