Steroid Abuse

Why Do Teens Take Drugs?

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Addiction, Drug Facts, Prescription Drug Abuse, Steroid Abuse on October 4th, 2011

In last year’s Drug Facts Chat Day organized by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a lot of questions were focused on the young people, and one query from a Pennsylvania student states: why do people take drugs?

drugsAs expected, hundreds of answers were given, each varying from person to person, but all answers were given corresponding “reality checks” so as to correct the misguided minds of most teenagers.

One of the most common responses among the participants was that drugs made them feel good. Drug users and addicts usually take these substances for pleasure and the sensations of euphoria which differs depending on the type of drugs. Cocaine, for example, can bring about a certain “high” boosting self-confidence and energy, while opiates like heroin causes feelings of satisfaction and relaxation.

The drug effects may give temporary escape from whatever worries and problems people may have, but after the effects subside, the same problems stay and solutions are still at loss. Situations can become worse when a person becomes addicted and he fails to have his regular dose and unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal occur like headache, nausea, and even mental problems.

Kids also said that drugs help them perform better, in academics and in athletics. It is true that drugs enhance one’s abilities which could lead one to continue with the habit. Yet these drugs called “performance-enhancing drugs” outweigh their positive effects with their negatives. Steroids, as an example, promotes breast growth among men and gives females deeper voices and more unwanted body hairs. More serious consequences of such drugs include heart failure and seizures.

Teens also said, “Everybody’s doing it.” In their quest to fit in and be accepted in groups, teens easily succumb to peer pressure and get into risky behaviors. This is why it is very important for kids to have strong values foundation to help them think before they do something dangerous and help them realize the damages that drugs can bring into their lives.

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Cleveland Browns and Local Schools Team Up Against Teen Drug Abuse

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Steroid Abuse on September 24th, 2011

The Cleveland Browns are doing their share to keep kids off drugs. The team has partnered with local schools like Amherst Steele, Buchtel, Clearview, GlenOak, James F. Rhodes, John Hay and Lakewood, in implementing a program that will keep kids, especially athletes, safe and away from drugs.

The NFL was instrumental in creating the program. Together with the ATLAS (Adolescents Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids) and ATHENA (Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives), the program promotes healthy living and winning in competitions without the use of drugs, particularly steroids, which has been used to enhance performance in sports events.

Track and Field coach Stephanie Toole from Lakewood High says the program is very effective in empowering students and athletes to make the right decisions to become better leaders of their teams. Coaches from John Hay also echo the same benefits from the program, saying that school athletes become more resilient when faced with the temptation to use steroids, and that they are better at saying ‘no’ to these addictive substances.

Students from the local schools are glad that such a program exists to help them go through the challenges a lot easier. John Hay student Ogechi Onyeukwu says “the problems, the conflicts, and the struggles of peer pressure, smoking, and drinking and taking steroids…I’m just honored to be able to be around people that go through the same problems as me and are facing the struggles… and are able to discuss how to overcome them.”

The same sentiment is felt among Lakewood students. Student Jay Andreani states that the program helps those who think that taking drugs is alright. He says the idea that drugs is not necessary to be successful has been lost especially on those who are on the competitive side. The program is the answer to bring back this awareness into the school population.

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2012 London Olympics Will Have The Most Drug Tests

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing, Steroid Abuse on June 22nd, 2011

The World-Anti Doping Agency (WADA) has warned ‘doping cheats’ who are planning to be part of the 2012 London Olympics to not waste their time and efort in attending the Games.

London Olympics 2012Drug Control Centre Professor David Cowan at King’s College in London has confirmed that the 2012 Olympics in their country will be the most tested games ever in the history of the Olympics. Cowan says their thrust for 2012 is in line with the International Olympic Committee’s (IOC) aim to test more athletes and make the event as drug-free as possible.

Cowan says that their laboratory has been accredited by WADA and they are expecting more than 5,000 tests during the games. This number will make one in every two athletes to be tested randomly for doping. “If you want to take drugs, then don’t come to London,” said Cowan during the two-day gathering of scientists on doping practices and testing measures.

In a report from Yahoo! Sports, Britain’s Sports and Olympics minister Hugh Robertson has identified doping as the most serious problem when it comes to the Olympic Games. The IOC’s motto ‘Citius, Altius, Fortius’, which means ‘faster, higher, and stronger’, will be applied on testing procedures of athletes as there will be faster analysis, higher sensitivity, and stronger proof for the drug tests.

“Since WADA came on the scene, the scientific research is better, the testing is better and we are now discussing how they might cheat,” Cowan said. “We have been keeping up with latest practices and very often we are ahead.”

The athletes’ biological passport will be of great importance in the event. Cowan says the passport creates a biological profile on an athlete’s blood and will signal any abrupt changes in his system which is a powerful tool that Cowan’s group will take advantage of. The process has been practiced previously in other Games and the London event will not be an exception.

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UCI Denies Cover Up of Lance Armstrong Drug Tests

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Testing, Steroid Abuse on May 26th, 2011

According to Lance Armstrong’s former teammate Tyler Hamilton, the International Cycling Union had pretty much something to do why Lance never tested positive for his drug tests during his competitive years. Hamilton granted an interview with “60 Minutes” and stated that he also tested positive for doping twice within his career.

Lance ArmstrongAn Associated Press report shares that UCI released a statement categorically denying any cover-up with regards to Armstrong’s positive drug tests during the 2001 Tour de Suisse. Officials claimed that not even once did Armstrong test positive on his drug tests and that their group never hid or altered any of his tests.

“The UCI is deeply shocked by the seriousness of the allegations made on the `60 Minutes’ program aired by U.S. television network CBS,” the group said in a statement. “The allegations of Mr. Tyler Hamilton are completely unfounded.”

In his interview, Hamilton confirmed that he used a blood-boosting hormone known as EPO as part of his preparations for the 2001 event. It was during the Swiss warm-up event that Armstrong allegedly informed him about the cover-ups that UCI made to protect his career.

The UCI has cleared the 2001 Swiss event of any doping activities and that Armstrong did not pay for any cover-up. It can be remembered that in 2002, Armstrong donated $25,000 to the organization’s anti-doping program, and in 2005, another $100,000 for the purchase of a Sysmex machine to be used for analyzing blood.

Former UCI President Hein Verbruggen also denied any alterations of results of blood tests done on Armstrong, and told the Associated Press his group did not hide any doping controls. In the wave of allegations thrown at the organization which he previously headed, Verbruggen says there’s no need for them to further prove their innocence; let their detractors prove that they are guilty.

The UCI has taken legal actions against Hamilton’s damaging claims.

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Verdict In for Barry Bonds: Guilty of Obstruction of Justice

Posted by Drug Free in Steroid Abuse on April 14th, 2011

Yes, the judicial system has finally bestowed a ruling upon one of baseball’s most controversial players, Barry Bonds. On Wednesday, the jury convicted Bonds for obstruction of justice when he swore he did not know performance-enhancing drugs were introduced into his system at the time when he was at his career’s peak.

Barry BondsBonds’ records in baseball has put him as the league’s all-time home-run leader; hitting 762 home runs in the course of his 22-year career in the game with a whopping 73 in 2001. While some may be in awe of what he accomplished, it somehow put others in doubt resulting to a validation of what he has achieved ultimately leading him into court.

The obstruction of justice was the strongest case against him, among the other charges filed such as the three counts of perjury. According to a feature on Yahoo Sports, the jury decided he intentionally misled people when he said his trainer never injected him with any performance-enhancing drugs (saying that the only person to inject him with anything is his doctor) and tried to convince them that he is a victim of some scientific experiments. He added that the ambitious people who held his career at that time were the ones to be blamed for what he has been through.

The verdict on Bonds brings us to the question of what this development can do for both the league and the government agencies involved. Eight years ago, Bonds testified he never used any drug to help him beat out competition, at least not on his knowledge. Today, he is convicted, yet we get the same stories over and over again.

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Congressman Raises Questions About Lance Armstrong Investigation

Posted by Drug Free in Drug Abuse Prevention, Prescription Drug Abuse, Steroid Abuse on March 15th, 2011

Rep. Jack Kingston has made his views clear regarding the continuing probe on athletes using performance-enhancement drugs, such as in the case of Lance Armstrong. The representative is looking into who is authorizing the probe, how much has been spent on these investigations, and what results have been gathered on these cases.

Lance ArmstrongHe specifically raised questions about FDA criminal investigator Jeff Novitzky who has headed investigations on performance-enhancing drugs on athletes’ Barry Bonds, Roger Clemence, and recently, Lance Armstrong.

As the chief funds controller for the Food and Drug Administration, Rep. Kingston is asking about the activities that Novitzky has undergone. It was noted that for the probes that were made on the above mentioned stars, he was funded for trips to France which was part of the investigating process. The official also asked about the number of employees involved and to whom are they directly reporting to. He also added that due to Lance Armstrong’s stature, he has been made a target of controversies and people in the agency should not make this a criterion on their filing of cases.

For the lawmaker, it is very important that the limited resources of an agency be put on matters with utmost priority. While he is not belittling the case on Armstrong and company, he says there are more issues that need to be resolved such as the growing abuse of prescription medicines. The outcome of the investigation on the athletes is significant, but after the results, what will happen?

There is a need for a transparency on investigations made specifically on the authorizing officials and the costs that are entailed in such acts. The department has limited funding, and so matters with the utmost importance should be on top of the agency’s list.

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