Affiliation:
1. Facilitator—Alternative Curriculum, Rush Medical College, 1792 Prestwick Drive, Inverness, IL 60067
Abstract
Ergogenic aids include prescription and OTC drugs. Many other substances are used for the purpose of enhancing performance. These include black market anabolic steroids, sympathomimetics, vitamins, and nutritional supplements. The effectiveness of these aids varies from potent to non-effective. There is no controversy about the adverse effects of prescription drugs in therapeutic doses. There is widespread confusion about what athletes really do to themselves when taking OTC drugs and dietary supplements containing drugs in large doses or black market drugs at doses and schedules that are user determined. To the extent that any athlete can enhance performance by taking ergogenics, they expose themselves to harm and put pressure on their competitors to join in or be defeated. It is essential to keep the population of competitive athletes informed by bridging the gap between “street knowledge” of ergogenics and the pharmacists' obligation to advise against harmful consequences.