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

DEA Extends Emergency Regulation On Spice And K2 Ingredients

The five main chemicals (JWH-018, JWH-073, JWH-200, CP-47,497 and cannabicyclohexanol) that are used to make synthetic marijuana products, have been put under extended emergency scheduling authority, to prohibit possession or selling of both the chemicals and the products that contain them. The additional authority will last for another six months and has been enacted by the DEA (United States Drug Enforcement Administration) as a follow up to emergency action taken a year ago, when an imminent risk to public health and safety was identified.

Read more from this article published in Medical News Today by clicking here.

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

Synthetic Marijuana: Serious Consequences

Use of synthetic marijuana has been discussed within the LSU Athletic Department for some time now. Early warnings regarding the legality and dangers of smoking synthetic marijuana have been clearly outlined within LSU's ADAP Substance Abuse Policy. It is clear that this man-made product is very dangerous, having very negative consequences on one's ability to perform in the classroom and perform at high levels athletically. While we have heard cases of random deaths from the use of synthetic marijuana, it hit fairly close to home with the death of a Division I Men's Basketball player from Anderson University in South Carolina. Click the link below to read the details of this tradegy.

http://www.foxcarolina.com/story/15706199/coroner-synthetic-pot-killed-anderson-university-basketball-player

"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