Introduction
Performance
enhancing drugs are some of the most controversial aspects of the contemporary
world and this is especially considering that it is in widely used to achieve a
diverse number of goals. The users of this drug tend to have a positive aspect
towards them because they are considered to be a means towards achieving their
goals. This is especially the case where they are under considerable pressure
to ensure that they perform to the best of their abilities. Some studies have
shown that users of performance enhancing drugs are usually regular individuals
who, because of the considerable pressure put on them, end up in a situation
where they conclude that it would be best for them to use these drugs. In
addition, while most of these drugs are readily available in pharmacies, they
often require a prescription. A result is that even though they may be
available, they are looked upon by most organizations, especially in sport, as
promoting unfairness in diverse aspects of life, such as competitive sport.
Because of this, there has been wide advocacy for their ban, especially among
those individuals that participate in sport. However, there is also an opposing
side that promotes the idea that in these drugs are made more widely available
to ensure that there is the advancement of fairness in various activities. This
paper seeks to demonstrate the circumstances leading to the use of performance
enhancing drugs, the attitudes towards them in various countries, and the
manner through which their effects have stirred considerable debate.
Attitudes to performance enhancing drugs
The
greatest use of performance enhancing drugs takes place among university
students. These individuals believe that it is a social norm to make use of
drugs such as Ritalin to enhance their performance at the academic level.
However, despite the use of these drugs by some students in universities,
studies show that very few of them have actually made use of the drug named
above (PĂ©rez-Pazos, Collazos & Casas, 2015). The use of these drugs often
takes place because of the considerable pressure that students have to undergo
in order to ensure that they not only have good grades, but are also
competitive in the job market once they complete their studies. A consequence
of this situation is that a considerable number of students hold the belief
that if they use performance enhancing drugs, they will be able to ensure that
they are able to handle a diverse number of situations and challenges in their
academics without having to endure the considerable pressure that comes with
their studies. However, despite these efforts, the drugs that are used in an
academic environment tend not to have the desired effect, especially in
instances where students place too much faith in them rather and focusing on
working hard towards the attainment of their academic goals. Therefore, while
the use of performance enhancing drugs may be considered to be a social norm in
institution of higher education, is does not serve to enhance academic
performance because the individuals involved in it tend not to realize that
these drugs are merely stimulants whose effects are not compatible with
performance.
Performance
enhancing drugs are not often used for medical reasons, and are instead gotten
over the counter by those who desire to use them. A result is that in countries
within the EU, there are a significant number of individuals, especially
students, who opt to obtain these drugs without proper consultation with
doctors. Individuals in this society have ended up in a situation where they
take advantage of the ready availability of performance enhancing drugs to
ensure that they acquire them for their personal use. The attitude towards
these drugs show that the taboo concerning the unfairness of their use is
increasingly being eroded and it is only a matter of time before it becomes a
common practice. Individuals in the contemporary world seem to be taking a more
relaxed attitude to performance enhancing drugs than their predecessors; a sign
that attitudes are heading towards the legalization of these drugs in everyday
use. Individuals in European countries such as the UK and Belgium have a
positive attitude towards these drugs in comparison to Turkey, where the
approval of such drugs is quite low. The cultural values of individuals in
various countries seem to be extremely important in the development of
attitudes towards performance enhancing drugs (Schermer, Bolt, de Jongh & Olivier, 2009). Concepts concerning
competitiveness seem to be the drivers behind the high approval ratings that
are seen in the UK, while fairness is a determinant factor in the case of
Turkey. The achievement of personal goals through the use of performance
enhancing drugs is an essential factor in determining individuals’ attitude
towards them, and this is irrespective of their country of origin.
The
acceptability of using performance enhancing drugs is a feature of what can be
termed as changing social norms. A majority of studies, which have been
conducted in the United States, show that the number of individuals that approve
of the use of performance enhancing drugs is steadily increasing, and this is
especially considering that that a considerable number of people have admitted
to using them once or several times in their lives (Ponnet, Wouters, Walrave, et
al., 2015). Among the most significant considerations when it comes to the use
of these drugs is that they not only serve to enhance the performance of the
users, but they also play a role in increasing the confidence of users. In
American institutions of higher learning, the use of these drugs was considered
the norm, with many of those that promoted its use stating that it is an
essential means of ensuring that their academic performance was advanced. Therefore,
unlike in other countries that were studied, especially in the EU, the United
States showed a higher number of people that approve of the use of performance
enhancing drugs and consider it to be a social norm. The emergence of the use
of these drugs from the periphery into the mainstream is a sign that the taboos
that governed their use is gradually being eroded away, and society is
gradually accepting these drugs as an essential aspect of their lives. Under
such circumstance, it is likely to be difficult to ensure that the argument
concerning the use of performance enhancing drugs leads to unfairness because
it is the same environment that has fostered competitiveness that has also led
to the advancement of means through which individuals are increasingly feeling
under pressure to increase their performance.
A
study on performance enhancement drugs shows that it is often determine by
alcohol use. Alcohol use is an influential factor when it comes to the use of
performance enhancement drugs, especially among young people. This is
especially considering that these individuals are more impressionable at this
stage in their lives and feel that they can be better able to overcome their
deficiencies through the use of these drugs (Boardley, Grix & Dewar, 2014).
In addition, alcohol use makes it easier for individuals to want to try out new
substances, meaning that it is a critical factor when it comes to the
advancement of performance enhancing drug use. In most cases studied, young
people are more susceptible to the use of these drugs because of the new
pressures that have developed in their lives. There is often a failure to
consider that piling pressure on these individuals might have the negative
effect of making them to seek alternatives to keep up with the prevailing
circumstances. It therefore becomes essential for these individuals to seek out
ways to ensure that they are able to cope with the various pressures in their
lives through the use of performance enhancing drugs. The use of these drugs is
not only prevalent in the academic arena, but also in the workplace, where
individuals are often under constant pressure to perform to the satisfaction of
their superiors. A consequence is that many of these individuals end up
adopting the use of performance enhancing drugs in order to cope with the
pressure and long hours that they have to undergo in their work environment. This
situation is a cause for concern in most countries assessed because it shows
that individuals are increasingly becoming reliant on performance enhancing
drugs in order to undertake everyday activities as well as to cope with the
pressures of the contemporary world.
Another
aspect of performance enhancing drug use is that despite their being considered
a social norm, not many people have actually made use of them. Therefore, the
perceptions concerning their use is not consistent with reality because while a
considerable number of people feel that it is justifiable to make use of these
drugs, in reality, their use is quite
limited. Social media as well as other means of rapid circulation of
information has made it possible for a positive attitude towards performance enhancing
drug use to develop (Brennan, Kanayama & Pope, 2013). In addition, it has
led to the creation of an environment where individuals have become more ready
to make use of these drugs whenever they feel that they have to attain their
goals as quickly as possible. These circumstances are a matter of serious
concern because they show that individuals in the contemporary world, because
of the prevailing misinformation concerning performance enhancing drugs, even
though they may not be active users, have developed an attitude that fosters
its use. Consequently, it is important that initiatives to bring about an end
to such misinformation and to counter it is essential in making sure that
society as a whole is protected against the use of drugs that might be harmful
to the health of individuals without necessarily providing any tangible
benefits. Creating awareness that the use of performance enhancing drugs should
not be considered a social norm and should instead only be used on
recommendation from competent medical practitioners is important in helping to
promote the interests of all individuals in society. This is especially the
case where most of these drugs are readily available over the counter; meaning
that many individuals take them without necessarily having knowledge concerning
their potential effect on them. By creating awareness concerning performance
enhancing drugs, it becomes possible for individuals to question whether they
should be making use of these drugs themselves.
Performance enhancing drugs in sports
In
sport, the use of performance enhancing drugs is a serious problem, especially
when it comes to competitive sports. This is because in the contemporary world,
winning competitions comes with considerable benefits, including cash rewards
and sponsorship deals. The result is that some sportsmen are often willing to
do whatever it takes to ensure that they attain the edge that they need over
their competition in order to win. The use of performance enhancing drugs, or
doping, in sports has led to a situation where it has raised a lot of concern,
especially within the public concerning whether it is ethical (Brand, Heck
& Ziegler, 2014). Organizations have been set up to ensure that such
practices are put to a stop, with many sportsmen and women that have been found
to have made use of these drugs being handed severe punishments. Among the most
severe punishments that have been meted out have been striping athletes of
their medals and also banning them from competitions for certain periods of time.
The stricter rules that have been put in place concerning the use of
performance enhancing drugs has led to some individuals in sports going to
extreme lengths to ensure that they hide the fact that they make use of these
drugs (Hodge, Hargreaves, Gerrard & Lonsdale, 2013). However, despite the
strict guidelines that have been set up concerning them, performance enhancing
drugs seem to continue haunting sports. Scandals associated with the use of
these drugs have become more common in recent years than was previously the
case and this has been associated with more advanced methods of detecting the
presence of these substances in the body. One of the most noteworthy scandals
that have come about in recent years has been the Russian doping scandal, which
has revealed that the Russian government has been behind the advancement of the
performance of its athletes through the promotion of an extensive doping
program (Duval, 2017). While the role of the Russian government has been
revealed, it is likely that a number of other governments across the world run
similar programs in order to enhance the performance of their athletes.
Despite
the presence of better methods of detecting illegal substances in sports, there
are instances where individuals might make use of these substances unknowingly.
The ready availability of over the counter drugs that may contain banned
substances in sport has the potential of leading to the unfair victimization of
some athletes. The latter might innocently make use of drugs with performance
enhancement qualities which, if detected, can lead to a situation where they
are led into a situation where they are punished for offenses that they have
not intentionally committed (Chan, Lentillon-Kaestner, Dimmock, et al., 2015).
The development of awareness concerning the substances that are banned in sport
is an important means of making sure that there is a reduction of incidents of
the use of performance enhancing drugs. In addition, there are instances where
it is essential for governments to place strict regulations on those substances
that enhance the performance of individuals. The easy availability of these
substances over the counter should be discontinued because it is a means
through which to ensure that there is little chance of use of these drugs in
sport without the approval of medical practitioners. The achievement of this
goal would make sure that there is the advancement of means through which individuals
in sport are not only protected against the use of these drugs, but also from
unfair competition from those individuals that are likely to intentionally use
performance enhancing drugs to gain an advantage. By restricting the
availability of performance enhancing drugs, especially to individuals
participating in physically demanding and competitive sports, it becomes
possible to reduce instances of scandals in sports while at the same time
increasing the profile of various sporting activities. The pressure that is
encountered by athletes in competitive sports has the potential of leading them
towards the seeking to make use of performance enhancing drugs. It is therefore
essential to ensure that there is the promotion of awareness concerning the
need for fairness in sports in order for the use of these drugs to be
significantly reduced.
Prevalence of performance enhancing drug
use
The
prevalence of performance enhancing drug use is dependent on the prevailing
factors in the environments within which individuals live. Studies on various
countries, including universities in the UK, Belgium, and Turkey, show that a
considerable number of individuals have not made use of these drugs, and those
that have are more likely in high pressure environments. The latter is
especially the case in universities where students in such faculties as
medicine or related ones tend to report higher incidents of substance use in
order to enhance their performance. Using these circumstances is believed by
individuals to ensure that they are able to cope with courses that are
particularly demanding (Helmer, Pischke, Van Hal, et al., 2016). Moreover, an
increasing number of individuals in society feel the need to ensure that they
succeed in their endeavors meaning that they are willing to do what they
believe will help them achieve their goals. The use of performance enhancing
drugs is believed to be a means of ensuring that they are able to cope with the
stress that is prevalent when dealing with the stress of everyday life. There
are also instances where individuals feel that those that are more successful,
either in the workplace or in academics, make use of performance enhancing
drugs. This belief is based on the highly competitive nature of life in the
contemporary world and the different ways through which individuals have
adopted to cope with the stress. A result is that individuals have come to
suspect one another without any proof that their fellows actually use
performance enhancing drugs.
Conclusion
The findings of the studies reviewed above
show that the use of performance enhancing drugs is an increasingly worrying
issue. This is especially considering that there is a widespread belief that
most individuals make use of these drugs on a daily basis. While this belief is
not based on reality, it might have an influence on an increasing trend in the
use of these substances in society. Pressures found in the lives of individuals
in both academic and work environments, among others, has led to the belief that
it is a social norm for performance enhancement drugs to be used in various circumstances.
However, the use of these drugs is not as widespread as it seems, and in fact,
very few individuals actually make use of them.
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