Drugs in the Office
Sports radio has been discussing the use of alderall by football players and their suspension by the league for using performance enhancing drugs. I think this is an issue that needs to be discussed and the application of the term performance enhancing may need some modification.
The long term use of drugs and many other modern conviniences in the name of sport, entertainment, business, education, medicine is almost impossible to fathom. While I may live longer and with a better quality of life according to some I find my self rebelling against some aspects of progress as it currently practiced.
Lance Armstrong is a posterboy for bad behavior when it comes to doping in his sport and he has only been convicted after the fact by improvements in the methodolgy of testing for banned substances and confirming testimony by teammates.
The use of steroids in baseball has made a mockery of records related to homeruns and pitching and more than a few players each year are suspended for steroids or human growth hormones that a caught when tested randomly and their efforts to avoid detection fail.
In education alderall and rittalin are becoming more popular "study aids" because they increase the ability to concentratrate or focus. Apply the appropriate drug to the particular occupation and you get truck drivers driving dangerously long hours or maybe we have executives whose judgement may be clouded regarding risk taking. Atheletes are faster, stronger and recover more quickly from work outs.
The other side of the arguement is that there have always been drugs. Some people can't function without coffee at breakfast and in Miami a shot of Cuban coffee, midday and mid afternoon. Some students with adhd are better able to function in school with rittalin and alderall, and steroids have legitimate medical applications. College students used diet pills to combat fatigue and catch up during all nighters.
We tried prohibition of alcohol, as a public policy it failed. We have systematically damaged millions with criminal records for the recreational use marijuana. Voters in several states have voted to legalize marijuana either a a medicine or for recreational use.
Kids and an awful lot of adults spend endless hours on the computer or their smart phones rather than being involved in more active, healthy activities.
There isn't a simple answer. This isn't Lake Woebegon either.
The long term use of drugs and many other modern conviniences in the name of sport, entertainment, business, education, medicine is almost impossible to fathom. While I may live longer and with a better quality of life according to some I find my self rebelling against some aspects of progress as it currently practiced.
Lance Armstrong is a posterboy for bad behavior when it comes to doping in his sport and he has only been convicted after the fact by improvements in the methodolgy of testing for banned substances and confirming testimony by teammates.
The use of steroids in baseball has made a mockery of records related to homeruns and pitching and more than a few players each year are suspended for steroids or human growth hormones that a caught when tested randomly and their efforts to avoid detection fail.
In education alderall and rittalin are becoming more popular "study aids" because they increase the ability to concentratrate or focus. Apply the appropriate drug to the particular occupation and you get truck drivers driving dangerously long hours or maybe we have executives whose judgement may be clouded regarding risk taking. Atheletes are faster, stronger and recover more quickly from work outs.
The other side of the arguement is that there have always been drugs. Some people can't function without coffee at breakfast and in Miami a shot of Cuban coffee, midday and mid afternoon. Some students with adhd are better able to function in school with rittalin and alderall, and steroids have legitimate medical applications. College students used diet pills to combat fatigue and catch up during all nighters.
We tried prohibition of alcohol, as a public policy it failed. We have systematically damaged millions with criminal records for the recreational use marijuana. Voters in several states have voted to legalize marijuana either a a medicine or for recreational use.
Kids and an awful lot of adults spend endless hours on the computer or their smart phones rather than being involved in more active, healthy activities.
There isn't a simple answer. This isn't Lake Woebegon either.
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