# 1 5: S T IM U LA N T S ,

E S C R IP T IO N D R U G S , A N D
PR
R -T H E - C O U N T E R D R U G S
OVE ISTO PHER
ANTO NIO C HR

SPORTS AND SOCIETY

INTRODUCTION & IMPORTANCE
• Prescription/Over-
• STIMULANTS The-Counter Drugs
• ILLEGAL • Legal
• WORK ON THE CENTRAL • WADA List
NERVOUS SYSTEM TO • Oxycodone,
INCREASE ALERTNESS, opioids, and
CONCENTRATION, antidepressants
METABOLIC RATE,
POWER, STRENGTH,
AND TO DECREASE
FATIGUE

• Chris Herren
A CRITICAL THEORIST WOULD SAY…
• SPORTS SHOULD BE FAIR TO ALL WITH AN EVEN AND
CLEAN PLAYING FIELD

• USING DRUGS IN SPORT UNDERMINES VALUES LIKE

FAIR PLAY AND TEAMWORK

• THEY ALSO GIVE SPORT A BAD REPUTATION AND SET

A POOR EXAMPLE TO OTHERS

• DISMISSES INTEGRITY OF THE GAME

POSSIBLE CHANGES

• CONSISTENT DRUG ENFORCEMENT/REGULATIONS

• DRUG EDUCATION COURSE FOR ALL NEW ATHLETES
• ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
• MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS/EVALUATIONS
1. CONSISTENT DRUG ENFORCEMENT
• ALL PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LEAGUES WILL HAVE TO ABIDE
BY THE SAME DRUG POLICIES

• HELPS TO CREATE AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL

ATHLETES

• ALL ATHLETES TESTED FOR THE SAME DRUGS

• ALL PENALTIES FOR FAILURE TO ABIDE BY THESE RULES
WILL BE CONSISTENT IN ALL LEAGUES

• GOAL: CONSISTENCY FOR ATHLETES AND FANS

2. DRUG EDUCATION COURSE
• ALL NEW ATHLETES MUST UNDERGO A DRUG EDUCATION
COURSE

• PROVIDED BEFORE EACH NEW PLAYER GETS DRAFTED/SIGNED

• CONSISTS OF CONSEQUENCES AND RISKS OF USING
• MAKES ATHLETES AWARE OF THE SIDE EFFECTS
• GOAL: DISCOURAGE ATHLETES FROM USING WHILE SPREADING
AWARENESS
3. ZERO TOLERANCE POLICY
• ONE STRIKE AND YOU’RE OUT
• IF SUSPECTED OF USING DRUGS, IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF
THE PLAYER WILL BE MANDATORY
• PENDING CONFIRMATION
• IF DRUG USE IS PROVEN WITHIN A PLAYER, THE PLAYER WILL
NO LONGER BE ALLOWED IN A PROFESSIONAL SPORTS LEAGUE

• GOAL: STRICT PENALTY TO HEIGHTEN THE RISK AND

REWARDS FOR ATHLETES WHO USE
4. MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS & EVALUATIONS
• ATHLETES MAY USE DRUGS IF THEY COMPARE THEMSELVES TO SUPERIOR
ATHLETES
• CAN FEEL THEY NEED TO DO DRUGS IN ORDER TO STAY “UP TO PAR”
• ESCAPE REALITY
• MENTAL HEALTH SCREENINGS WILL MAKE SURE ATHLETES ARE STABLE
ENOUGH TO WHERE THEY DON’T HAVE TO USE DRUGS

• CAN ALSO BE EARLY INDICATORS OF SOMEONE WHO MAY TRY DRUGS

• HELPS PREVENT DRUG USE
SUMMARY & FUTURE
• DRUG USE IN THE ATHLETIC INDUSTRY IS VERY PREVALENT
• UNSAFE, NOT PROFESSIONAL
• SIGNIFICANCE: CREATES UNFAIR ADVANTAGES AND HEALTH RISKS
• ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO SAVE LIVES AND
EVEN THE PLAYING FIELD

• DRUGS ARE AS ACCESSIBLE AS EVER BEFORE AND TECHNOLOGY IS

ONLY GETTING STRONGER