+ Common Drugs used in Athletics Ms. Cheetham

+ Objectives Understand the difference between therapeutic and recreational drugs. Know the medications commonly used for various conditions. Have a basic knowledge of how medications work. Understand why athletes use substances to improve their performance. Understand the signs and symptoms of substance abuse. Have a basic knowledge of performance-enhancing aids commonly used in athletics. Define addiction.

+ Drugs A drug is any substance other than food or water that changes the body’s chemistry when it is either ingested or applied topically Uses: Therapeutic purposes Performance improvement Recreation

+ Therapeutic Drugs Have a medical purpose Often prescribed or recommended by a doctor/team physician Used to treat disease, an infection, or a disorder such as diabetes, and is used to relieve pain or swelling

+ NSAIDS Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory Drugs Reduce the amount of tissue swelling after an injury. Includes aspirin and ibuprofen which are OTC drugs (over-the-counter) OTC drugs can be legally purchased without a prescription

+ Aspirin Aspirin can be used to reduce pain Blood thinner and can cause more swelling initially to an area Anemic athletes should avoid aspirin because of its blood-thinning ability

+ Ibuprofen Reduces pain and swelling; commonly used for sprains/strains In large amounts it can cause upset stomach and should be taken with food Regularly taking ibuprofen can cause kidney and liver damage

+ Local Steroids Applied to the skin or injected in a joint to reduce swelling and pain; NOT anabolic steroids Used mainly for allergies, skin disorders, or joint pain Injected local steroids can weaken tendons

+ Beta-Adrenergic Drugs Maintain the airway during an asthma attack by controlling the release of chemicals Prescription only Can be administered via injections, inhalation or pills

+ Antibiotics Used for bacterial infections The drug enters the bloodstream and assists white blood cells Improper use can cause bacteria to change and become resistant to the drug Must be taken as prescribed and until it is gone

+ Recreational Drugs No medical purpose Three problems: 1. Negative side effects ranging from lack of motivation to death 2. Unknown impurities in the drugs, which result from lack of legal control over their manufacture and sales 3. Involvement with criminal elements, which can result in legal and personal problems

+ Caffeine Found in coffee, tea, and chocolate as well as some brands of aspirin, cold medications, weight-loss products, and soda Stimulant – increased heart and breathing rates Diuretic – it flushes fluids from the body Addiction: headaches, nausea, and tiredness when going through withdrawal

+ Tobacco Smoked or smokeless It lowers stamina and has many negative long-term side effects Greatly increases a person’s chance of developing lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and other disorders Smokeless tobacco is placed inside the gums and nicotine is absorbed into the bloodstream

+ Tobacco Nicotine increases heart and breathing rates High school and college association regulations state that smokeless tobacco is not to be used Professional associations don’t regulate use Can develop precancerous cells of the cheek, tongue, and gum called leukoplakia

+ Tobacco Precancerous cells are white and some have blisters Surgery may be necessary to remove parts of the jaw or tongue Cavities, bad breath, and gum disease are more common WARNING!!!

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+ Alcohol Produced by fermentation which occurs when yeast breaks down the carbohydrate in grains or fruits One beer, one glass of wine and one shot are the SAME alcohol content Depressant- Causes heart rate, breathing rate, and reaction time to slow Body treats alcohol as poison and sent to the liver for detoxification

+ Alcohol Takes about an hour and 20 minutes to detoxify one drink Loss of consciousness occurs when the blood alcohol content is.4% and death occurs after Persistent alcohol use: Liver disorders Nutrition probs Illness Brain disorders Stomach ulcers

+ Cocaine White powder that can be inhaled to give the user a feeling of euphoria Short duration of euphoria It takes more each time to feel the euphoria effect Side effects: Death from heart problems Suppression of the immune system Poor nutrition

+ MDMA Methylenedioxymethamphetamine Aka MDMA aka ecstasy Enhances sensory perception, mental stimulation and physical energy Addictive Can cause muscle cramping, blurred vision, nausea and chills

+ Performance Enhancing Drugs

+ DMSO Dimethylsulfoxide decreases healing time and wound swelling Absorbed quickly through the skin and leaves a garlic taste in the mouth Never been approved for humans Unknown side-effects

+ Ephedra Used for a long time as a weight-loss drug Can cause high blood pressure, heart attack, and strokes In 2004, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) banned the sale of supplements containing this drug

+ Blood Doping Endurance athletes can benefit from having extra oxygen-carrying blood cells (red blood cells) Blood is drawn and stored while his body replaces the lost blood cells It is then injected just before the event so there are more red blood cells This can shock the body by adding extra blood

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+ Anabolic Steroids Hormones such as testosterone Physicians prescribe anabolic steroids to treat asthma, severe muscle injuries, and arthritis Steroids have been used to combat the side effects of cancer Athletes use anabolic steroids to build muscle

+ Anabolic Steroids Androstenedione aka andro, a steroid hormone Increases testosterone production in men over a short time frame, usually 8 hour period Steroids are injected and ingested by a method called stacking Using a combo of pills and injections to avoid the side effects caused by taking a single high dose all at once

+ Anabolic Steroids Male side effects: Acne Decreased testicular output Heart problems Cancer Addiction Enlarged breast tissue Mental illness Hair loss Weakened ligaments Decreased growth Roid rage

+ Anabolic Steroids Female side effects: Deepening of voice Addiction No menstrual cycle Increased body and facial hair Decreased body fat

+ Anabolic Steroids Human Growth Hormone (HGH)- protein-based hormone used by athletes to facilitate muscle growth Gamma Hydroxybutyrate (GHB)- aka club drug because it is a central nervous system depressant Side effects include seizures or coma

+ QUESTIONS??