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When you finish this chapter you will be able to:
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Discuss the issue of substance abuse in the athletic and physically active population.
Identify the signs of substance abuse.
Describe the effects of performance-enhancing drugs commonly used by athletes.
Discuss the negative effects of alcohol and tobacco on an athlete’s health.
Identify the primary recreational drugs and their effects.
Briefly discuss drug-testing programs to identify the substance abuser.
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The use of nutritional supplements by athletes to improve performance was discussed in Chapter 5. This chapter focuses on the abuse of a variety of substances, particularly drugs and medications, performance-enhancing drugs, and the negative impact they can potentially have on the health of the athlete.
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Certainly, concern about the number of athletes engaging in substance abuse is increasing (Focus Box 24–1).46 Some athletes use performance-enhancing drugs in an attempt to improve performance, whereas others use drugs as a recreational pursuit.32,41 The use of performance-enhancing drugs among recreational, middle school, secondary school, collegiate, professional, and Olympic athletes has been much written about and discussed.4
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FOCUS BOX 24–1 Identifying an individual who may be using performance-enhancing drugs
The following are signs of potential abuse:
Sudden personality changes
Severe mood swings
Changing peer groups
Decreased interest in leisure activities
Worsening grades
Disregard for household chores and curfews
Feeling of depression most of the time
Breakdown in personal hygiene habits
Increased sleep and decreased eating
Sudden weight loss
Lying, cheating, stealing, etc.
Defensiveness at the mention of drugs
Increased isolation (spends time in room)
Deterioration of family relationships
Others making observations about negative behavior
Constantly missing appointments
Falling asleep in class or at work
Financial problems
Missing assignments or deadlines
Diminished productivity
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Although much of the information being disseminated to the public by the media may be based on hearsay and innuendo, the use and abuse of many different types of drugs can have a profound impact on athletic performance. To say that many experts in the field of sports medicine regard substance abuse among athletes with growing concern is a gross understatement. Clearly, use and abuse of performance-enhancing drugs has no place in the athletic population.34
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PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS
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A performance-enhancing drug, sometimes also referred to as an ergogenic aid, is a term used to describe any method, legal or illegal, used to enhance athletic performance. In sports medicine, the administration of a drug that is designed to improve the competitor’s performance is known as doping.42 Doping has been defined as the “use of substances or adoption of medical practices not justified by pathological conditions, aimed at improving competitive performance.”40
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doping The administration of a drug that is designed to ...