Drugs Revision

Examples of recreational drugs:

• Cocaine
• Ectasy
• Cannabis
• Ampethemines 
• LSD
• Magic Mushrooms

This drugs can all affect a participants performance in sport as there level of cardiovascular fitness may be altered becase many of these drugs have an affect on the respiratory system. Also it is very easy to become highly addicted to most of these drugs. These are all socially unacceptable drugs.

Alcohol is banned in motorsports and archery as it has a calming affect, it also impairs judgement. 

Socially Acceptabe Drugs: 

These are drugs that you can get over the counter or that can be prescribed. 

Some sports people take performance enhancing drugs to try and beat their competition, to wi sponorships, for the fame e.c.t.

This is often called 'doping' and is banned by any sports governing bodies.

The list of performance enhancing drugs:

• Anabolic Steriods
• Beta Blockers 
• Stimulants 
• Peptide Hormones 
• Diuretics 
• Narcotic Analgesics 

Anabolic Steriods: 

Anabolic Steriods are sed to mimic the male hormone testorone, it's used to train harder and build muscle quicker. Anabloic Steriods also repair muscle quicker meaning a performer can train harder and increase the freqency of the training. 

Side Effects: 

• Growth in facial hair
• Deepening of the voice 
• Kidney damage
• Increased risk of heart attack or stroke
• Infertility in women 
• Increased risk of muscle injury 
• High blood pressure 
• Even death 

Beta Blockers: 

Beta Blockers lower the heart rate and the blood pressure, meaning stress and anxiety is reduced. They calm the performer, so they don't shake as much; becoming more precise. They are mainly used in sports that need a good level of hand-eye coordination like shooting, snooker, archery e.c.t. 

Side Effects:

• Nausea
• Diarrhea
• Tiredness
• Insomnia
• Depression 

Diuretics: 

Diuretics elevate the rate of urine production, meaning it expells any traces of others banned sbstances being used by a performer, because they will have produced a higher level of urine so they can't detect it in the urine as they are passing it more regularly. They are also used for perforers to lose weight quickly, for example a boxer may want to go down a catergory, they would se diuretics to lose it to get into a featherweight catergory. 

Side Effects: 

• Dehydration
• Dizziness
• Headaches
• Nausea 
• Muscle Cramps 
• Kidney Problems

Narcotic Analgesics:

Narcotic Analgesics are used to reduce pain, they are pain killers. They supress the CNS (central nervous system), they give relief fro painful injuries. They help an athelete train whilst injured or coing back from an injury. Some examples of Narcotic Analgesics are Heroin, Morphine and Methadone. 

Side Effects:

• Loss of concentration 
• Loss of co-ordination
• Loss of balance 
• Emotional effects
• Hallcinations 

Stimulants: 

Stimulants increase alertness, so a performer can think more quickly, overcomes tirednes, it stimulates the CNS. Some examples of it are; Amphetamines, cocaine, caffeine, nicotine e.c.t. They increase the reaction time of a performer. 

Side Effects: 

• Insomnia 
• Irritability
• Irreglar heart rate and beat 
• High blood pressure 
• Addictive

Peptides Hormones: 

Peptide Hormones are drugs that cause other hormones to be produced, they are similiar to anabolic steriods as they also increase muscle growth. They are also used for increasing the recovery rate of a performer so they can start train quicker. EPO can allow the body to carry more oxygen by increasing the amount of red blood cells ina performer's system. It's used mainly in long distance events like cycling. 

Side Effects:

• It thickens the blood
• Blood can't fit through capallaries; as it's so thick
• It can case heart attacks and strokes; also due to the blood being so thick
• Dehydration