Drugs, Choices in Sports

Drugs Interactive Module

NCAA

Choices in Sports

Coaches

Crew Chiefs, Athletic Trainers, and Team Physicians

Table of Contents:

[ General / Adrenergic / Amphetamine ]
[ Ergogenic / Hormones / Steroids ]
[ Over the Counter / Recreational ]
[ Related / Drugs Interactive Module ]

Introduction

Whether you're a fellow athlete, a parent, a coach, or a friend, people will ask you about your opinions and througts. Because of this relationship with others - and your willingness to listen and share - you may be instrumental on helping shape the decisions of others about a variety of health-related topics. But this also means you may be placed in a challenging position or circumstance regarding your pssition on substances or substance use. Thinking about these situations in advance - and thinking about possible responses - can be a helpful way to prepare for these potentially difficult times.

Instructions:

  1. Read over the scenarios provided below and imagine yourself in that situation. (In fact, you may have already been there! Imagine yourself in the situation again, coming up with an even better response.)
  2. In the box provided, type in your ideas for the best way to respond to the situation. Please use short but understandable phrases. (By the way, any information you type in these boxes will be collected for research purposes only. Do not type in your name or any text that might identify you or your institution. In fact, we will delete any data associated with your name or your institution.
  3. When you've responded to all the scenarios, press the 'Compare Responses' button to compare your responses in these Scenarios to what others have shared.

Scenario 1: (Anabolic Steroids) A friend of yours is an athlete on the school team. Your friend mentions, "I've been looking at information on the World Wide Web that suggests anabolic steroids are helpful in building muscle mass. That's something I need to compete better in my sport. But...I don't know...the benefits seem to outweight the risks of side effects or medical problems. Do you think it's worth the risk?"




Scenario 2: Human Growth Hormone (HGH) is sometimes used by athletes for similar reasons that anabolic steroids. If you were a coach, athletic trainer, or fellow athlete, what cuations would you share with someone thinking of using HGH to enhance their performance?

Scenario 3: (Amphetamines) A friend asks you , "How do amphetamines affect an athlete's performance? I know they can stimulate your nervous system, but I don't know if that turns into changes that the athlete can use to perform better. Do you know?" You friend continues, "Also, how would you know if a friend has been using them too long or is starting to have problems with them?"

Scenario 4: (Alcohol) You have a friend who explains, "Alcohol really gets me up for my games. I feel better and more excited about getting in there and doing well. I don't think it has a negative impact on me or my performance." What comments might you make to your friend?

Scenario 5: (Coffee/Tea) Maybe you've heard that a strong cup of coffee doesn't help make someone drunk more sober...you'd just have a wide-awake drunk! But would coffee or tea help improve an athlete's performance?

Scenario 6: (Tobacco) Major league baseball sportsmen are often seen chewing spit tobacco. In fact, it seems to have become an importat part of the baseball athletes' means of creating an identity. What would you comment to young baseball players in a Little League if you wanted to educate them about the benefits/problems with using spit tobacco?

Scenario 7: (Marijuana) "Is marijuana smoking more or less dangerous than cigarette smoking?" is a question asked by adolescents who have heard about the dangers of cigarette smoking, but are less clear about the effects of smoking marijuana. How would you respond to the comparison?

Scenario 8: (Heroin) With all the stories about heroin addiction, its adverse effects, and sterotype of the "typical heroin addict" you might think adolescents don't experiment oruse heroin-but they do. What reasons do you think they might give to justify their use of heroin?

Scenario 9: (Narcotic Analgesic) In your opinion, what is the greatest problem associated with the use of narcotic analgesics to assist an athlete in improving performance during a competition?

Scenario 10: (OTC Drugs) You've go more joint than you'd care to endure. It may have something to do with the intensive workouts you've been doing to improve yourself, or it may be something else-you're not sure. Some good friends recommend you take a bigger does of some painkillers like Advil (ibuprofen) or Tylenol (acetaminophen) to help you maintain your long workouts. What would you do to handle this situation?