Athletes, Drugs, and Entitlement

As Division III officials prepare to reduce the penalty for athletes who test positive for non-performance enhancing drugs Saturday, new data released here Wednesday showed that use of marijuana and other drugs is highest among athletes in that competitive level.

The data, presented by National Collegiate Athletic Association researchers here at the group's annual convention, are a preview of findings from two quadrennial surveys of 21,000 athletes on their drug use and social environments.

The surveys also found that many athletes are not comfortable outside their athletic social circles, and feel entitled to more flexibility and special treatment from professors.

Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2014/01/16/drug-use-and-attitudes-about-entitlement-among-athletes#ixzz2qarD2aC0
Inside Higher Ed

NCAA 2012-2013 Banned Substance List

Ever year the NCAA furnishes its member institutions with the most current list of banned substances. This list is meant to educate the student-athlete on the classes of drugs and some of their compounds that are deemed illegal in the collegiate sports arena. Some of these drugs or medications are considered to be performance enhancing while others are simply illicit drugs that can be a danger to one's health and well being.

Please click here for the NCAA's 2012-2013 Banned Subsance List.

Death of Teen: Synthetic Marijuana Takes Another Life

A recent story on msnbc.com shared the story of a 13-year old boy who tragically died after needing a lung transplant brought on by use of synthetic marijuana. it is just another example of the dangers we face when using these types of drugs. We know this is a man-made drug that is labeled not for human consumption for a reason. It's side effects are very random from person to person and use to use. Reports of psychosis, loss of appetite, very rapid heart rate and elevated blood pressure as well as heat intolerance are just a few of the symptoms that have been noted after even single use. Click the link below to read the story of this teenager whose life was cut short by the use of synthetic marijuana.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/45062477

"Legal Weed" is Now Banned

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) - An herbal mixture called "synthetic marijuana" because it gives a marijuana-like high when smoked is being banned in Louisiana.

For more information on this story, please click on the link below.

http://www.klfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=12713138

"Roofies" Becoming a Bigger Concern in Baton Rouge

The LSU community has recently seen an unusually high number of students reporting that they may have received a ‘roofie’ at local Baton Rouge establishments. Be aware of what you can do to protect yourself...

What do Roofies do?

Roofies (hypnotic sedative type drugs) cause sedation, a feeling of extreme intoxication, and amnesia. The liquid (usually GHB) or powdered pills (Rohypnol, Lortab, Vicodin) are dropped into your drink usually by someone who wants to take sexual advantage of you. About 10 minutes after ingestion, you'll start to feel very drunk-like and have difficulty speaking or moving as well as the inability to remember anything; eventually, you may pass out.

The drug's amnesiac effect lasts anywhere from six to eight hours; even if you are not passed out, you'll have no memory of anything that occurred while you were under the drug's influence, nor will you be able to defend yourself. Besides making you vulnerable to sexual assault, roofies can also cause nausea, seizures, coma, liver failure, and even death from respiratory depression.

How Can I Protect Myself?

• Roofies may cause an unusual salty/bitter taste when dissolved in any beverage; be alert to a strange taste in your drink. Small amounts may be undetectable in an alcoholic beverage.


• When placed in a light-colored drink, Rohypnol will turn the beverage bright blue. If your water origin and tonic turns blue, bring it to the LSU Police Department for testing and become especially alert; someone has tried to drug you. GHB, lortab and vicodin, as well as other sedative hypnotics won't change the color of your drink.


• If you suddenly feel unusually drunk after just a small amount of alcohol, quickly ask for help - you might have just a few minutes of alert behavior left to you.


• Don't drink anything you did not open yourself or that you didn't see being opened or poured.


• Don't accept a drink from someone you don't know unless you see it being opened or poured by a bartender. A note of caution – bartenders may be one of the people involved in dispensing the drug.


• Always watch your drink at parties and bars. If you leave your drink unattended, get a fresh one to be on the safe side. Taking a beverage from open containers, (i.e. a bowl) is extremely high risk.


• Have a friend drive to and from a party or bar with you to lessen your chances of being taken advantage of.


• Take care of your friends. If they seem disproportionately drunk, suddenly amorous, and "out of it," they may have been slipped a drug. Don't leave them alone.

(Some of these tips are reprinted with permission from Iona College.)

What Should I Do if I Suspect I've Been Sexually Assaulted?

• If you suspect that you have been sexually assaulted, do not shower, douche or otherwise destroy potential evidence.
• Seek medical attention at the Student Health Center (during regular hours of operation) or the hospital as soon as possible; evidence can be collected should you decide to so that you will have evidence of the assault.
• Seek assistance to help you through this traumatic event:

1. Contact a Sexual Assault Victims Advocate (SAVA) (www.lsu.edu/shc/225-578-5718 <http://www.lsu.edu/shc/225-578-5718> ),


2. Contact the LSU Mental Health Service, 578-8774, during regular hours of operation.


3. You can also contact the Rape Crisis Center, 225-383-7273 (24 hour),


4. or The PHONE, a 24 hour crisis line at 225-924-(LSU1)5781.


5. You should inform friends you trust, and you should consider getting professional counseling.

If you choose to file a police report, contact LSUPD at 225-578-3231.

Information in this blog provided by:

Katie McGee Barras
Assistant Dean of Students & Associate Director of Student Advocacy and Accountability
Louisiana State University
115 Johnston Hall

CNS Depressants: Are They Addictive?

Discontinuing prolonged use of high doses of CNS depressants can lead to withdrawal. Because they work by slowing the brain’s activity, a potential consequence of abuse is that when one stops taking a CNS depressant, the brain’s activity can rebound to the point that seizures can occur. Someone thinking about ending their use of a CNS depressant, or who has stopped and is suffering withdrawal, should speak with a physician and seek medical treatment.

In addition to medical supervision, counseling in an in-patient or out-patient setting can help people who are overcoming addiction to CNS depressants. For example, cognitive-behavioral therapy has been used successfully to help individuals in treatment for abuse of benzodiazepines. This type of therapy focuses on modifying a patient’s thinking, expectations, and behaviors while simultaneously increasing their skills for coping with various life stressors.

Often the abuse of CNS depressants occurs in conjunction with the abuse of another substance or drug, such as alcohol or cocaine. In these cases of polydrug abuse, the treatment approach should address the multiple addictions.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/PainMed.html

CNS Depressants: What Are They?

CNS depressants slow normal brain function. In higher doses, some CNS depressants can become general anesthetics. Tranquilizers and sedatives are examples of CNS depressants. CNS depressants can be divided into two groups, based on their chemistry and pharmacology:
Barbiturates, such as mephobarbital (Mebaral) and pentobarbitalsodium (Nembutal), which are used to treat anxiety, tension, and sleep disorders.

• Benzodiazepines, such as diazepam (Valium), chlordiazepoxide HCl (Librium), and alprazolam (Xanax), which can be prescribed to treat anxiety, acute stress reactions, and panic attacks.
• Benzodiazepines that have a more sedating effect, such as estazolam (ProSom), can be prescribed for short-term treatment of sleep disorders.

There are many CNS depressants, and most act on the brain similarly—they affect the neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that facilitate communication between brain cells. GABA works by decreasing brain activity. Although different classes of CNS depressants work in unique ways, ultimately it is their ability to increase GABA activity that produces a drowsy or calming effect. Despite these beneficial effects for people suffering from anxiety or sleep disorders, barbiturates and benzodiazepines can be addictive and should be used only as prescribed.

CNS depressants should not be combined with any medication or substance that causes drowsiness, including prescription pain medicines, certain OTC cold and allergy medications, or alcohol. If combined, they can slow breathing, or slow both the heart and respiration, which can be fatal.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/PainMed.html