Performance Enhancing Drugs and Their Prevalence in the Society - Research Paper Example

Performance Enhancing Drugs and their Prevalence in the Society The use of performance enhancing drugs has increased greatly in recent years because of the evolution of the communication technology. Internet has made knowledge only a click away therefore people can access information about different types of drugs rather easily. They can also buy the drugs online which is fueling the supply of such drugs. The prevalence of performance enhancing drugs in the society offers no good to the community as a whole. They provide a short cut for success and this is attracting the younger generation towards performance enhancing drugs. Obsession to gain a competitive edge over others has distorted the thinking of the society and has made athletes perceive that ends justify means (Ghaphery, 1995). This is one possible explanation of the use of performance enhancing drugs in the society. We want to achieve everything at all costs and this desire for success and excellence has shaped our perception in way that justifies the use of such drugs no matter the consequences. No health or social cost of the drug can stop a person who is just obsessed with meeting the end. We, as a society, have corrupted our moral system to a level that the distinction between right and wrong has blurred. The prevalence of performance enhancing drugs in the society is a serious cause of concern for parents and medical experts. The prevalence of such drugs in the society show how many people are looking to achieve their aims at the cost of their health. According to a study around 3million people in United States of America had used anabolic steroids in 2001 (Silver, 2001). The number is 10 years old so one can imagine the how many active users of performance enhancing drugs exist in the society today. It also shows that there is a huge supply line for such drugs in the market and manufacturers are finding ways to penetrate the health care system of the society. Media is to be blamed for the increasing use of performance enhancing drug in the society. Media has constantly attempted to present a ‘macho man’ image of men which is luring males of all ages to strive to get an attractive body. A need to look good is not something undesirable but obsession of looking attractive forces people to use drugs even at the expense of their health. Everyone wants to look fit and all muscular, and when this is not possible through exercise they are compelled to use the ‘shortcut’ method of taking performance enhancing drugs. A scaring study suggests that the use of performance enhancing drugs is also increasing in older adults who want to maintain their ‘youthfulness’ (Haber, 2004). Performance enhancing drugs are being used by athletes and coaches who want to gain an edge over their competition. They are also being used by young and old adults to have a more ‘shaped’ body. The problem is that this trend has to stop otherwise it sooner kids will try to use performance enhancing drugs in their school competitions as well. The prevalence of performance enhancing drugs is great in the society and this is not desirable. Social Perils of Sports Drugs Performance enhancing drugs or sports drugs are known to prevail ubiquitously in our society but it is also important to understand the perils they pose for the society. Sports drugs cause health problems for users but there are severe social consequences of sports drugs. Society cannot function in a proper manner if everyone tries to get to the short cut of success. The desire of success is natural but for that hard work is a pre-requisite to success and if a ‘short cut’ mentality spreads in a society than it can entice people to follow the short cut method in other spheres of life. Crimes can increase as a result and this is a significant social peril of sports drugs. Another problem associated with sports drug is high levels of stress. When people are overly obsessed about getting in shape or winning a competition they develop stress problems. High levels of stress can affect the normal day to day functions of life. The 21st century can be termed as the age of stress and tension, where even a 10 year old has hundreds of problems. In a society like this people will not be able to function in a proper manner and their social relationships will get affected. The feeling of being observed by everyone is sometimes so strong that we start to live for ‘others’ therefore it is not unusual to see the total breakdown of our aesthetic values. Black market sales of performance enhancing drugs exceed $100 million every year (Tokish, Kocher & Hawkins 2004). All this revenue can be used to fuel the other illicit activities of gangs and drug mafia. The societal consequences of sport drug use are severe and its high time people start to realize the possible dangers of sports drugs. Getting illegal sports drug can also make young people find other more dangerous drugs like cocaine. Drug mafias usually target young kids who come from good backgrounds so with sports drug other drug use can also increase. The effect of sports drug on personal morality is extremely negative. Most people do not even consider it wrong to use sports drug in competition. This gives rise to cheating and fraudulent behavior in all walks of life. While rationalizing the use of sports drugs, other cheating activities can also be justified easily. The breakdown of personal morality can easily be seen by the increasing number of criminal activities of the youth. Sports drugs, therefore, are changing the mentality of youth about right or wrong. They also violate the ethics and sportsmen spirit of sports (Devine, 2010). The idea that ‘better’ is always good is the driving force behind the increasing use of sports drugs (Parens, 2000). We have developed a need for excellence at all costs. We have to understand that getting everything right is not possible, it has never been possible. It is one of the most basic flaws of human nature that we do not feel contended. Attempts to feel contented can go on and on but they will not end. Performance enhancing drugs only give us a small chance of getting success at great health and social costs, and it is vital that the society understands it. Importance of Educating Youth Regarding Sports Drugs The dangers of sports drugs are serious enough to raise concerns for educators and parents alike. In order to counter the social perils of performance enhancing drugs it is important that parents and teachers should play a role. Today young people have many influences that shape their perception. It is therefore important to help the younger generation at a childhood level so as to they can counter the effects of influences they will get exposed to. If a child knows about the harms and dangers of performance enhancing drugs then he or she might not be attracted to such drugs in future. It is also essential for the moral development of children to train them that everything in life should be achieved on a fair basis and there are no short cuts to success. The role of education institutions is also vital in educating students about the possible harms of sports drugs. The use of such drugs is mostly due to the pressure of the society and peers. Young people want to attract attention therefore they attempt to ‘fit’ in the environment, and for that purpose they are willing to do anything. Smoking, drinking, and other dangerous behaviors are also common in adolescence. It is at this point that students should be made aware of peer pressure and how it can force them to do something hurtful to themselves. Proper knowledge of performance enhancing drugs should be given to the children because it is useless to hide the existence of such drugs forever. Teenagers are avid users of technology so they will eventually find out. Therefore it is important to educate them before hand about the drugs and their dangerous effects. Students should be given case studies of the people who have suffered because of sports drugs consumption. Children particularly look up to sports stars and want to be like them, therefore they might get attracted towards sports drugs (Kneen, 2004). This is why education regarding sports drugs should be given at an early age. There are many cases reported frequently on media regarding use of some performance enhancing drugs by athletes or sport stars. Children can get inspired by such cases and may develop an appetite for sports drugs. Performance enhancing drugs are a real problem among adolescence and some students consciously plan to use sports drugs in future (Anton, et al. 2011). This situation is getting extremely dangerous and it’s high time that parents and teachers take active part in education of sports drugs. They should be made a regular part of the curriculum in order to stop the prevalence of sports drugs in the society. References Anton, A. M, et al. (2011). Anabolic drugs consumption by adolescent students of physical education degree in Spain, Portugal and Italy: A survey. African Journal of Pharmacy and Pharmacology, 5(5): 654-657 Devine, John Williams. (2010). Doping is a threat to sporting excellence. British Journal of Sports and Medicine, 45: 637-639 Ghaphery, N. A. (1995). Performance Enhancing Drugs. The Orthopedic clinics of North America, 26(3): 433-442 Haber, C. (2004). Life extension and history: The continual search for the fountain of youth. Journal of Gerontology, 59(6):515-522 Kneen, Judith. (2004). A question of sport. The Guardian UK. Retrieved from http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2004/mar/16/schools.learnlessonplans Parens, Erik. (2000). Enhancing Human Traits: Ethical and Social Implications. New York: Georgetown University Press Silver, M.D. (2001). Use of ergogenic aids by athletes. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, 9 (1): 61–70 Tokish, J., Kocher, M., & Hawkins, R.J. (2004). Ergogenic aids: A review of basic science, performance, side effects, and status in sports. American Journal of Sports Medicine, 32 (6):1543–1553 Read More