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Belief #3: "Recreational use of chemicals will help an athlete relax, have fun, recover, and prepare for future competition."

Cocaine, marijuana, alcohol and tobacco are used by some athletes in a social setting away from the stresses of athletic competition. Athletes expect the mood changes triggered by these chemicals to have a positive effect on their feelings, behavior and future performance.

Research on the recreational use of these chemicals tells us the following:

Cocaine

• Cocaine stimulates certain brain cells which produce a sense of euphoria and excitation.
  
  
• Cocaine usually generates a positive feeling of euphoria, well being and confidence for approximately 20-40 minutes following use.
  
  
• Cocaine use euphoria is followed immediately by a period of depression and often confusion.
  
  
• Cocaine has proven to be highly psychologically addicting. Cocaine use has high financial costs.
  
  
• Cocaine use can lead to undesirable physical effects such as vomiting, rapid increase of blood pressure followed by a rapid decrease, variations in breathing patterns, changes in body temperature, insensitivity to temperature, dryness of throat and mouth.
  
  
• Cocaine is illegal and banned by rules of international competition.
  
  

Marijuana

• Marijuana affects the function of the brain resulting in a state of intoxication. Marijuana has been used by many people throughout history to achieve a mild state of intoxication.
  
  
• Marijuana smoking reduces lung efficiency and increases the risk of developing bronchitis, emphysema and lung cancer.
  
  
• Marijuana use can lead to decreased motivation among heavy users.
  
  
• Marijuana is fat soluble which means it can stay in body tissues long after use has stopped.
  
  
• Marijuana is illegal and banned by rules of international competition.
  
  

Alcohol

• Alcohol depresses the central nervous system, which can result in a sense of well being, relaxation, loss of inhibition, reduced judgement skills, slowed movement and coordination, and speech impediments. Intoxication can result in a hangover which includes physical discomfort such as headache and nausea.
  
  
• Alcohol is used by many people to achieve a mild state of intoxication.
  
  
• Alcohol affects judgement and performance and is a contributing factor in many automobile accidents.
  
  
• Alcohol use problems occur among people of all ages, ethnic groups, and socioeconomic classes.
  
  
• Alcohol use by minors is illegal.
  
  

Tobacco

• Tobacco (whether smoked or chewed) stimulates the heart and respiratory rates. Despite this physiological stimulation, effects include a reported sense of relaxation. Tobacco smoking has been directly related to the development of health problems especially of the heart and lungs.
  
  
• Most tobacco smokers indicate a desire to quit.
  
  
• Tobacco use by minors is illegal.
  
  
• Social reinforcement seems to be a primary reason to begin smoking and/or chewing tobacco.
  
  

Smokeless Tobacco

• Snuff is finely ground tobacco sold in small "tea bag" pouches or in loose powder form; both are sold in small round cans.
  
  
• Either a pouch or a thumb and forefinger "pinch" of snuff is placed in between the gum and lower lip, where it mixes with saliva and the nicotine is absorbed through the nasal mucosa.
  
  
• Alternatively, loose snuff can be placed in the nostril, inhaled and partially absorbed through the nasal mucosa.
  
  
• Chewing tobacco is coarsely cut tobacco sold in cans or pouches in loose or "plug" forms.
  
  
• The loose form is often taken from a pouch with thumb and two fingers as a golfball sized "chaw" or "quid" and placed between the cheek and teeth where it is sucked. The plug form comes in a "bar" or "twist" which is bitten off and chewed.
  
  
• Whether "dipping" snuff or chewing tobacco, the user tends to salivate excessively. Users of chewing tobacco usually spit since swallowing the tobacco juice may produce nausea.
  
  
• Some snuff dippers swallow, others spit.
  
  
• The pouch or chaw is replaced every several hours.
  
  
• Both dippers and chewers may keep tobacco in place up to 24 hours a day, often for decades.
  
  
• Estimates of the total number of smokeless tobacco users range from 11 million to 22 million.
  
  
• Smokeless tobacco sales have increased 11 percent annually since 1974.
  
  
• The use of smokeless tobacco produces three categories of health effects; leukoplakia and oral cancer, dental effects such as tooth abrasion and loss, and a variety of other health effects resulting from exposure to nicotine, sugar and other smokeless tobacco constituents.
  
  

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