The use of prescription drugs in sports is an issue that has been kept under wraps for quite some time now. On the contrary, the use of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) like human growth hormones and anabolic steroids have been highly publicized by fans and members of the media. Using PEDs to gain a physical edge has been widely regarded as cheating and frowned upon in the sports world. While these drugs have adverse health effects, they are not as addictive and harmful as opioids and opiates can be to an athlete’s long-term health.
To better understand why these drugs are harmful, it is important to know what these drugs are and how they work. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines opioids as a natural, synthetic, or semi-synthetic chemical that interacts with opioid receptors in the body and brain to reduce pain. Opiates are a group of opioids that are made naturally using the poppy plant. Not only do these drugs alleviate pain, they give users a sense of euphoria which can lead to addiction and abuse. After growing a tolerance to them, addicts crave the high and need even more pills to satisfy their cravings. Illegal opioids like heroin and illegally manufactured fentanyl have made their way into the US and are being used to increase the potency of drugs like cocaine, MDMA, and methamphetamine. Fentanyl is more lethal than other opioids and has led to an increase in drug overdoses. Prescription opioids like oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine are commonly used by doctors to treat pain from surgeries, but these pills are safe if used in small doses and under careful direction from a doctor.
The seriousness of opioid addiction was cast on the sports world when Tyler Skaggs, a former Major League Baseball player for the Los Angeles Angels, tragically died from an accidental overdose. Skaggs was found in his Dallas hotel room on July 1, 2019 just hours before a game was set to begin. Autopsy reports showed that he had a mix of alcohol, oxycodone, and fentanyl in his system when he passed out and choked on his own vomit. It was discovered that Eric Kay, a long time Angels Communications Director, distributed opioids to various players on the team, and that Kay unknowingly gave Skaggs oxycodone laced with fentanyl which ultimately killed him. This opened a can of worms on how this could happen and why these famous athletes could fall into the cracks of addiction.
Tyler Skaggs poses for a photo during Spring Training. Skaggs passed away later that year. Phoenix, Ariz., March 2019. (Getty Images/Ric Tapia)
On February 17, 2022, Eric Kay was found guilty of distribution of a controlled substance resulting in death and conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute controlled substances. During his trial, the sad truth about opioids in sports was revealed. Skaggs’ mom testified that her son suffered with opioid addiction in 2013, and was only prescribed Tylenol after having surgery in the summer of 2014 to repair the UCL in his elbow. After a long two-year recovery, Skaggs was back on the field and experiencing groin discomfort. Fearing that he could miss more time and money, Skaggs’ agent Ryan Hamill urged him to play and told Skaggs, “We can Aleve and Advil the f— out of it.” This kind of pressure to be on the field and play through pain is a common theme in youth sports all the way up to professional sports. The MLB schedule consists of 162 games from April to September and can be very taxing on a player's body. Multiple Angels players testified that Kay distributed opioids to them so they could play pain-free and get through a grueling schedule without fear of losing their job. Like the others, Skaggs got in touch with Kay to get oxycodone and percocets to stay on the field. He once again succumbed to the addiction of these dangerous pills which led to his tragic and avoidable death, which begs the question, how did the Angels allow this to happen?
It is important to know that this was not an isolated incident and that using prescription drugs or stimulants to stay healthy is commonplace in professional sports. During Kay’s trial, former Angels pitcher Matt Harvey gave a powerful testimony that shed light on what really goes on inside a baseball clubhouse. Harvey played for the New York Mets where he was a young star, but had an addiction to cocaine and alcohol that was well known by his former teammates. When asked in court if he lied about his cocaine use to the Mets he said, “No one really asked.” This quote really showed how teams will sweep things under the rug to avoid unwanted controversy. Upon joining the Angels in 2019, Harvey got his first oxycodone from Skaggs early in the year and got Harvey in touch with Kay. In Harvey’s testimony he said it was common for players to get oxycodone and that they were easy to obtain. Harvey provided Skaggs with percocets that he obtained from a professional hockey player. While he is remorseful about it looking back, Harvey said, “I did it because I thought I was being a good teammate.” This idea that you have to look the other way to drug abuse and help teammates stay healthy is one that is consistent with most professional sports and even at the collegiate level.
A study was performed by experts from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor and the University of Central Florida to study the non-medical use of prescription opioids amongst college athletes. The experts researched previous studies that showed student-athletes were more likely to abuse alcohol due to high levels of stress. They also discovered a study of former NFL players that claimed that 71% of NFL players used or knew of teammates that used unprescribed opioids. The researchers then found that athletes were more likely to be prescribed opioids rather than non-athletes. Four components of an athlete’s mindset were compiled in the experts research: athletes are dedicated to their sport, athletes strive for distinction and the ability to win, athletes accept the risk involved with sports, and lastly, athletes must believe there are no obstacles standing in the way of their dreams. After crafting these ideologies, the researchers ran a survey to find out how many college athletes used opioids. Using the athlete principles and the survey as a guide, the researchers concluded that athletes were in the at-risk category of abusing prescription drugs due to their availability and innate nature of wanting to succeed.
While opioids are harmful to people of all ages, the lasting effect these drugs can have on children should be society’s utmost concern. Phillip Veliz, Carol Boyd, and Sean McCabe studied the parallels of adolescent sports participation and opioid use. They found that in 2011, 11.2% of US adolescents were prescribed controlled pain medicines. Surveys taken by Monitoring the Future (MTF) asked 8th and 10th graders various questions about non-prescription opioid use and sports participation. The study found that wrestlers and football players were more likely to suffer injuries and be prescribed opioids. The survey also found that teammates who were prescribed these drugs were also at-risk of distributing them to teammates to help play through injury. Veliz, Boyd, and McCabe acknowledged that they did not have many variables to study that could conclude with certainty that sports led to adolescent opioid use. While the study was not all conclusive, it should still be concerning to Americans that 8th and 10th graders are being prescribed opioids to deal with sports injuries.
The opioid epidemic has become one of the fastest growing crises in the country and a study done by BMC Medicine showed that the majority of overdoses that they observed came from pharmaceutical drugs rather than non-pharmaceutical. Opioids are dangerous, and the fact that kids are now getting access to these drugs more than ever should be a wake up call to Americans everywhere. Change best starts from the top, so the major US sports leagues need to hold themselves accountable and start promoting healthy alternatives to the pressures and injuries that most athletes will face during the course of their careers.
Sources
Potaka, K. L., Freeman, R., Soo, D., Nguyen, N.-A., Sim, T. F., & Moullin, J. C. (2022). Retrospective analysis of patterns of opioid overdose and interventions delivered at a tertiary hospital emergency department: impact of COVID-19. BMC Emergency Medicine, 22(1), 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12873-022-00604-w
Ford, J. A., Pomykacz, C., Veliz, P., McCabe, S. E., & Boyd, C. J. (2018). Sports involvement, injury history, and non-medical use of prescription opioids among college students: An analysis with a national sample. American Journal on Addictions, 27(1), 15–22. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajad.12657
Veliz, P. T., Boyd, C., & McCabe, S. E. (2013). Playing Through Pain: Sports Participation and Nonmedical Use of Opioid Medications Among Adolescents. American Journal of Public Health, 103(5), e28–e30.
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/prescription-drug-abuse/expert-answers/what-are-opioids/faq-20381270
https://www.cdc.gov/opioids/basics/terms.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9COpiates%E2%80%9D%20vs.,%2C%20semisynthetic%2C%20and%20synthetic%20opioids.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/former-angels-communications-director-eric-kay-convicted-tyler-skaggs-overdose-case
https://www.latimes.com/sports/angels/story/2022-02-09/angels-tyler-skaggs-mother-testimony-opioid-issue-2013-eric-kay
https://elitesportsny.com/2022/02/15/former-met-matt-harvey-testifies-about-drug-use/
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