Add another loved and respected athlete to the list of those that have admitted to drug abuse. Andre Agassi shocked fans this week when he told The Times that he used crystal methamphetamine.

Agassi was one of the most loved and well known tennis players in the 1990’s. His wild boy look and energetic attitude drew fans in. Tennis became a little more exciting when Agassi began to play, and many people who had never cared about the sport started tuning in.

Testing for Drugs

Agassi actually had a run in with the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP), the policing entity of tennis, back in 1997. That year, Agassi failed a drug test, and when confronted by the ATP, he reportedly came up with a lie, saying that he had taken a drink of his assistant’s spiked drink, thus causing him to test positive for crystal methamphetamine. The case was withdrawn, and we all assumed he was telling the truth, but apparently we shouldn’t have believed him so quickly. It makes you wonder how many other tennis players got away with drugs during that time. If a simple letter could counter the results of a drug test, it seems like the ATP might not have been trying too hard to catch players that were using drugs.

In the case of Agassi, it would make sense – the same organization that policed tennis was also the one responsible for promoting it. Losing Agassi to the grip of drugs would have been very detrimental to the sport. Maybe it was just easier for them to believe Agassi’s story and pretend like nothing ever happened.

It will be interesting to see how this revelation by Agassi changes the public’s opinion of him, and of tennis. Being out of the spotlight for some time now, it might not be such a shock as it could have been in 1997. But there are plenty of young people out there that look up to Andre Agassi as a role model, and once again, the pro sports figures are letting us down with their substance abuse.

Dealing with the Pressures of Life

It is a tough job to be in the world of pro sports. Long hours, grueling workouts, and life on the road all lead to these athletes feeling as though they are giving more than they’ve got. Agassi blamed the pressures of the sport and the long tennis season on this own drug abuse. Many of these athletes aren’t even dealing with performance enhancing substances as we might figure, either. It isn’t so much that they are using drugs to do their sport better, but rather to help them through the tough days. Sounds like a lot of the rest of the population. Many people use drugs to escape from the pressures of their life, but we’ve got to start learning that turning to drugs only makes matters worse.

Sources

Andre Agassi confession shows in-house policing is open to abuse

Agassi admits drug use, lying to tennis authorities

What’s next for tennis after Andre Agassi’s revelation

Agassi’s crystal meth admission adds another chapter to drugs in tennis

http://www.nesn.com/2009/10/whats-next-for-tennis-after-andre-agassis-revelation.html

Methamphetamine is a crystalline powder that can be dissolved in alcohol or water and taken orally, snorted, injected, or smoked. It gives the user a high because it causes the brain to release high levels of dopamine. It is a commonly used illegal drug in our country, and like all illicit drugs, there are many reasons not to start using it.

1. It’s addicting. Many people that use meth quickly become addicted and they begin to want to use more and more of the drug to keep that high feeling. Some meth users become so desperate to have meth that they begin to do things like make their own drugs, or put a loved one in danger in order to support the addiction.

2. Toxicity. Meth has toxic effects on the body and brain, even with short term use. Even after one use, meth changes how the brain functions, and chronic abuse can permanently alter the brain’s ability to learn and remember.

3. Risk of death. High doses of meth can cause convulsions or lethal hypothermia. Heart failure and stroke are also possible side effects from meth abuse.

4. Paranoia and anxiety. Long-term meth use can lead to paranoia, confusion, and insomnia. Anxiety is common and delusions and even hallucinations can occur.

5. Violent behavior. Because of the altered mental state of those that abuse meth, depression and changes in mood are common. Results of this can be violence and thoughts of suicide and homicide.

6. Home meth labs. Home meth labs can often lead to trouble. They can cause exposure to chemicals that result in skin irritation, chemical burns, and damage to the central nervous system. The other problem with home meth labs is the possibility of explosion. Countless stories are told of homes being blown up because of the chemicals used to make homemade meth, putting families and neighbors at risk.

7. Danger to children. People that abuse meth may also end up abusing their children. Some kids may be exposed to chemicals used to make meth or to the drug itself, and other kids may suffer neglect from parents that are high all the time.

8. Fetal exposure to meth. Women that use meth and become pregnant may not be able to stop using during the pregnancy. Babies that are exposed to meth during pregnancy may be subject to premature delivery, congenital deformities, and poor overall health.

9. Withdrawal. The withdrawal from meth is not so much a physical struggle, but rather a mental and emotional one. Patients that stop using meth will go through depression, paranoia, aggression, and an overwhelming craving for the drug. These withdrawal symptoms are serious and can make it very hard for a person to quit the drug.

10. It’s not worth it. Just like other illegal drugs, getting involved with meth causes more trouble than it is worth. Abusing drugs never helps a situation, and many people quickly find themselves addicted and wishing they had never tried it. It’s better to just stay away from it.

Sources
Dangers of Meth  http://www.stopmethaddiction.com/dangers-of-meth.htm

NIDA InfoFacts: Methamphetamine http://www.drugabuse.gov/infofacts/methamphetamine.html

Dangers to Children Living at Meth Labs http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/ovc/publications/bulletins/children/pg5.html

The manufacturing of street drugs in private homes isn’t a new concept, but it is just as risky today as it ever has been. Illegal drugs have been made in clandestine labs for decades as a way for the maker to bring in money or to support a drug habit. Methamphetamine is available by prescription, but this controlled substance can be cooked in a home lab and made into powder and sold on the street as a potent drug. Other amphetamine-type stimulants have also commonly been made in makeshift labs, as well as the rave drug, GHB, LSD and other strong hallucinogens. Many illegal drugs that end up being sold to kids and addicts on the street come from these homemade labs throughout the world.

The homemade drug manufacturer

Sometimes it is an ex-employee from a pharmaceutical company with the expertise on drugs that attempts to make them on their own. Other times it is a group of individuals that have researched how to best make certain drugs. Countless websites instruct anyone who cares on how to make certain street drugs. Often the ingredients are over-the-counter medicines or household chemicals. If it the ingredients aren’t readily available, some home manufacturers will find a way to order supplies or get ingredients on the black market.

Dangers of homemade drugs to the drug user

Besides the obvious problems with all street drugs, such as addiction, toxicity, brain damage, organ damage, and possible death, homemade street drugs have their own added problems. One of the most dangerous risks with homemade drugs is that each batch can be made differently, with changes in ingredients and measurements. With no standard of dosage, customers will often end up dying from overdose before other buyers and the seller realize the strength of a very powerful batch.

It is estimated that more than 50% of the time, the drug buyer is not getting the substance that they were told they were getting from a home-based lab. Makers will sometimes substitute a cheaper ingredient, or one more readily available, without the buyer knowing. And there are other things the home manufacturer won’t disclose either, such as the way the drugs have been handled and what tainted substances have come in contact with them. It could be that the drug maker used infected substances to cut and make the drugs, thereby passing along diseases such as hepatitis or maybe even AIDS.

Dangers to the public

Home-based drug labs are a threat to the general public at times also. These chemicals are often very unstable, which can lead to explosions or toxic fumes that threaten nearby residents. Because of the risks a homemade manufacturer faces, they may take drastic measures to protect their lab. Violence and shootings are commonly associated with clandestine labs.

Authorities are well-aware of the dangers associated with home drug labs and are working to find them throughout the country. The task may be daunting, but many lives will be saved by shutting down these drug labs.

Sources

Street Drugs

Chemical expert set up homemade LSD factory 10/12/2008

Crystal Myth

Elsevier B.V. Boltushka: A homemade amphetamine-type stimulant and HIV risk in Odessa, Ukraine 10-30-08

If you or someone you love is considering treatment for a drug or alcohol addiction, there are many decisions you may need to make in order to find the right facility. Below are some things to consider when choosing a facility, as well as things to expect once you get there.

First of all, it might be necessary to call a hotline to get immediate help for an addiction. This would be used when a person doesn’t know where else to go for help, or possibly someone is in immediate danger. If this is the case, the individual on the other end of the phone can give you valuable information about immediate treatment options.

Types of Facilities and Programs

If the decision is something that is thought about for a while and discussed, there are many different types of programs that might be useful. The first questions might be whether the facility offers residential, in-patient, or out-patient treatment, or a recovery house or long-term care. Some facilities are gender or age-specific, which might be particularly helpful to adolescents or females who might feel more comfortable in a setting with their peers.

It may be necessary for the treatment facility to have a detoxification program for the individual to rid their body of harmful substances while being monitored by a staff of medical professionals. After the physical dependency of the substance is addressed, the patient can begin counseling and treatment to manage the psychological dependency. Many treatment facilities have different activities to aid in this part of the recovery process. Things such as group therapy and family involvement have proven successful in treatment, as well as the 12-Steps for recovery. Some specialized facilities also provide programs such as equine therapy, recreational activities, cooking opportunities, and other things geared toward giving the mind and body something positive to focus on.

Recovery is an Ongoing Process

It is important for patients to be directed to long-term care to assist them in staying sober in the future. By learning about the risks of relapse and the skills needed to cope with stress and addiction triggers, an individual will be more likely to stay substance-free. A facility should provide follow-up services to give the recovering patient a support base when they move back into their lives. Recovery is an ongoing process. The groundwork is laid when an individual goes through treatment, but recovery continues on as the person is put back into their lives and families and has to effectively put what they learned into practice.

Entering into a treatment facility is a scary thing for most people. The unknown is hard to face. But the right facility can ease discomfort with their caring staff and positive programs. It still won’t be easy, but the goal is for the treatment to be successful. By working with counselors and staff to learn about oneself and taking accountability for the addiction, an individual can actually aid in the recovery process. So while you can expect treatment to be a challenge, it will hopefully be the best thing you’ve ever done.

Sources

T., Buddy Components of Effective Treatment Programs What Makes Alcohol Treatment Programs Work? January 22, 2008

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drug_rehabilitation

How would you feel if your insurance provider told you that the doctors’ visits and treatment costs for your illness were not going to be covered, or that you would have to pay a high deductible? Many people in our country are being told just that, and the reason is that the illness they have is substance abuse. There has long been a view in the world that substance abuse is a choice, or a character flaw, not a mental illness. Things are changing, however, and more and more research is being done on the complexities of the brain and its reaction to substance abuse. People today are beginning to see that while substance use might start as a decision to try something new, it quickly becomes an addiction that can’t be controlled.

Congress approves Mental Health Parity Act

Congress approved legislation last week that would change the way insurance providers handle claims for mental illness and substance abuse. The Paul Wellstone and Pete Domenici Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 provides “equity in the coverage of mental health and substance use disorders by ensuring that group health care plans do not charge higher co-payments, coinsurance, deductibles, and impose maximum out-of-pocket limits and lower day and visit limits.” Supporters of this measure include many in the House and Senate, businesses, insurance companies, and physicians. However, a few questions remained and until last week, it was uncertain whether or not the bill would pass before Congress went into recess this year. By attaching it to the Wall Street bailout bill, however, Congress was able to pass it quickly.

Help is needed

Help can’t come soon enough for many Americans struggling with drug or alcohol addiction. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness and the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare, mental illness is the leading cause, and substance use is the second leading cause, of disability among adults. Many of these adults are not getting the help they need to recover from their mental illness, and often it is because of the high cost of treatment. Another reason is fear of discrimination from their employer if they do seek treatment.

Equal Coverage for an epidemic

With legislation such as the Mental Health Parity Act, those with a substance abuse disorder can be reassured that their insurers will not be able to set a cap on healthcare coverage for mental illness or substance abuse that isn’t set for other illnesses.

In order to deal with the epidemic of substance abuse, we need more good addiction treatment facilities, more affordable health care to addicts, and more support behind families dealing with substance abuse. Through the passage of this bill, those with addiction should be encouraged to move forward and seek treatment, so that we can work toward decreasing the incidence of drug and alcohol abuse.

Sources

Congresswoman Shea-Porter Hails Passage of Mental Health Parity Act September 24, 2008

Many State Reform Initiatives Are Neglecting Mental Illness, Says Study July 08, 2008

Layton, Lyndsey Congress Approves Mental Health Bill Private Insurers Would Provide More Benefits Sept. 24, 2008

Ault, Alicia Equal Coverage For Mental Health?
Many States Require Parity, and Congress May Order It Nationwide November 6, 2007

Curley, Bob Congress, Bush Approve Addiction and Mental Health Parity Legislation October 3, 2008