Has drug testing gotten better? And alcohol – factors in relationships and in binging
Has drug testing gotten significantly better recently is the question we ask as this week more baseball players are banned for doping, and whether its a factor in Lance Armstrong’s decision to end his years-long duel with the US Anti-Doping Agency over the question of whether he used performance enhancing drugs and techniques.
Should We Just Allow Doping in Sports?
An editorial page blog in the NY Times asked the question … with constant scandals … should be just stop trying to fight the use of drugs in sport? and the corollary of the Portugal Experiment – decriminalizing drugs, and doing assessment and treatment, instead of punishment for drug users.
Sports and Drugs, Gambling and Dopamine
The Olympics … ways athletes strive to enhance their performances … by using drugs – as well as other techniques – like blood-doping … also news about gambling — it seems Facebook users are more inclined to gamble and make compulsive choices than “normies,” and the related obsessions with FarmVille …
More on Bath Salts and Prescription Rx abuse
…”bath salts” and synthetic marijuana are difficult to identify and test for, because their chemical structure can and does change often, largely in response to laws trying to outlaw them … and the new law attempting to ban all such substances signed recently by President Obama.
Opiates, Gateways, Tunnels, Antibodies
Recent news includes the opioid Opana, Federal laws outlawing synthetic marijuana and “bath salts” as well as smuggling tunnels, new nicotine vaccination, and a discussion of true gateway drugs: alcohol and cigarettes.
Pregnancy and Opioids
Psychoactive drugs cross … the placental blood barrier – so can affect a baby in utero. … hospitals have recently seen a large increase in babies born addicted to opioids, and the profound consequences that follow. We discuss this issues, options for detox and treatment, also the use and misuse of methadone.