Performance-Enhancing Drug Abuse

Coach and Athletic Director, Jan, 2000 by Ken Mannie

Understanding the Mentality

THE ATHLETIC COMMUNIty is continually confronted with the problem of performance-enhancing drug abuse. As we hear about athletes defying commonsense, medical reports, and their coaches' warnings on the deadly effects of drug abuse, we are shocked at their choice of self-destruction.

What possesses our athletes and what can we do about it?

In my 25th year of coaching on every level of athletics from junior high school to professional, I have counseled my share of troubled and misguided athletes, and have emerged with both heartening success stories and a handful of disappointments.

I have been able to identify several fractured rationalizations for drug abuse and to draw up a strategic approach to drug counseling.

The victimless crime

The recurrent theme is "I'm not hurting anyone by my actions." It's incredible how often you hear this simplistic nonsense, especially from the lawyers of convicted steroid dealers. The dismal reality is that everyone involved becomes a victim of this aberration.

When you take into account (1) the health risks encountered by the abuser, (2) the negative influence of drug abusers (especially big-name athletes) upon young people, (3) the damage inflicted upon families and friends, and (4) the unholy financial mess incurred by the abuser and often his family, the abusers' "explanations" become as credible as those offered by serial killers.

Denial of Injury

The subject of "harmful side effects" opens another can of worms. Very few drug abusers have done any serious research on drugs. Most of them utilize dealers, other drug abusers, and various underground publications, gym gurus, and the less reputable muscle magazines as their pipelines for information.

The abusers hear what they want to hear and always wind up deluding themselves. "I know what I'm doing" is the national anthem of the abuser. "I know how to do the drugs, how to control the dosages, and how to use other drugs to avoid the side effects" is the rhetoric used as defense mechanisms.

The ultimate sacrifice

"I take drugs because I want to win" is another common rationalization of the drug abuser. It has been become a fashionable sign of commitment to one's sport, even though it is totally rejected by every safe and healthful training code.

The drug-abusers associate their habit with "sacrifice." What they are really sacrificing is their health and sometimes their lives.

Condemn the accuser

Coaches must be prepared to be ridiculed by the abuser. Many drug abusers are ready to fight for their "cause" and will question every bit of wisdom advanced by their coach.

It's extremely important for the coach to know all the answers and to deliver them in a concise and convincing manner. The initial phases of counseling should be non-threatening, conducted in a positive manner, and make the individual understand you have his best interests at heart.

The coach must be firm, but not intimidating. Most athletes have been misled and are probably prepared to do the right thing. The few who don't respond favorably will obviously require more intensified counseling.

Conclusion

It is essential to conduct the counseling endeavor in a team setting. If the abusers are under the age of 21, the head coach must be informed and the parents must be included in the process.

The athletic training/sports medicine staff and a qualified counselor must be required to take a proactive role, assuming such services are available in the program.

The use of performance-enhancing drugs remain a major problem in athletics. Several messages must be sent to the young people by everyone in athletic administration:

1. We do not condone or tolerate any kind of illicit drug abuse.

2. Illegal performance-enhancing drugs cannot be used in the training regimen.

3. College and professional recruitment agendas should regard drug users as "damaged merchandise."

4. You don't need drugs to be competitive or to win games. Most of our good and great athletes never use them.

5. We will continue to offer our educational resources to athletes on drugs and maintain screening programs as both a deterrent and a teaching tool.

There are no valid reasons for drug experimentation or addiction.

The drug abuser should understand that "dying to win" is no longer an idle colloquialism in sport. With performance-enhancing drugs, "dying to win" can become a death wish.