How do you stop drug abuse? There are some athletes who are effected by this and need help. There can be a number of solutions to this problem and everyone seems to have a different opinion and point of view about it. One solution can be to actually reward the athletes with bonuses or benefits who do “not” abuse drugs. Another solution can be stricter punishments for athletes who are caught outside their playing field abusing drugs. A final solution would be for the professional leagues to test all their athletes for drugs to see who is and is not abusing drugs.
Drug abuse by today’s athletes is a major problem, and there must be a solution that society can attempt to help the individual before they do harm on themselves or society. Any drug abuse in general is a bad problem to have as a person. All across the nation, there are people who are affected by this and live horrible lives. Some start using drugs either as a way to get away from a personal problem or to try act “cool” in front of peers.
Then, sometimes after minor use, they can become addicted and their whole lives are changed forever (Keup 132-146). This is a major problem that is affecting athletes and the sports that they play. Today’s athletes are sometimes admired as top individuals in society. Whether this is even true or not, it cannot be overlooked by the way people pay attention to them. People read about them in the papers and magazines.
They pay large amounts of money to see them play. They cheer or boo when they do something good or bad. Basically, athletes are looked upon as top individuals. Athletes should understand they are not just normal people and are cherished by many.
Because of this, athletes with drug problems set a bad example for society. However, the fact is, there are some athletes who have problems with drugs. This is especially a problem that affects the youth of society. The youth look up to many of the top athletes in the world.
Many young individuals want to grow up and be just like the athletes due to their fame and fortune many have received throughout their athletic careers. If the same athletes that the youth admire abuse drugs, youths will think it is acceptable to also use drugs. This is definitely not what America should want for its youth to think or emulate themselves because not only would drugs affect them physically, but “the use of drugs by children may be damaging in shaping their attitudes” (Donohoe and Johnson 131). There needs to be a stop in drug use in America. By stopping or controlling the drug abuse in our top individuals in society like athletes, this might also put a stop or at least help to stop drug use in our youth. Athletes are pressured everyday to perform at a higher level and drugs are often an option for them to take to get them where they want to be in their sport.
Many athletes will do anything to get ahead or get that boost they want even if it means risking their health. In one survey that two authors noted, the question to top athletes was that “if they were given an option of taking a drug which would make them an Olympic champion, but which could kill them within a year, would they take it?” Almost 55% of them said yes (Donohoe and Johnson 125). This really points out that there is a problem with drugs in sports. Society cannot continue having its top professional athletes destroy their bodies just to win a race or lift the most weight. Drugs used improperly can do serious harm to one’s body and even one’s life. Throughout time, popular and famous individuals have died because of related drug problems.
Rock star Jimi Hendrix and actor Chris Farley have died due to a long time drug abuse or overdose. Each one had promising careers that ended due to drugs. This can be used as an example for athletes. If the same people that are using drugs continue to use it, they too might .
