NFL Enables Opioid Addiction 

Being a professional football player comes with enduring an extreme amount of pain. The game is built on people flying around and running into each other. In the NFL, these people are running 20-25 miles an hour and smacking into each other. Injuries come with this. Unfortunately, for most players, they can’t get hurt. This is their livelihood. This is how they feed their kids. If they are hurt, they will be replaced no questions asked. So what do they do to stay “healthy”? Shovel pills in their mouth.

What do NFL doctors prescribe their players when they are hurt? A common pill is toradol. It is basically Aleve on steroids meant to treat pain. I found an interesting article on player’s use of this pill on BleacherReport (https://thelab.bleacherreport.com/nfl-toradol-use-players-survey/) Players are quoted saying “I have used toradol every game for the past 4-5 years” Farther along players listed side effects of taking these pills. Some of the effects were dizziness, vomiting, upset stomach, and constipation. Is this a good solution? Unfortunately, it gets worse. I found another article from the WashingtonPost (https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/redskins/nfl-abuse-of-painkillers-and-other-drugs-described-in-court-filings/2017/03/09/be1a71d8-035a-11e7-ad5b-d22680e18d10_story.html) describing players’ abuse of painkillers. Players are even suing the NFL for improper use of prescription drugs, “The details and communications were unearthed by lawyers representing more than 1,800 former professional football players who are suing the league in U.S. District Court in Northern California, claiming they suffer long-term organ and joint damage, among other maladies, as a result of improper and deceptive drug distribution practices by NFL teams.” The bad news keeps piling on, with the article later stating, “An incredible amount of intervention with some pretty risky drugs, some of which, in the case of Vicodin, have a high addiction potential” And do you know what the NFL has chosen to ban instead of these pills and injections that leave negative life-long effects? A harmless plant: Marijuana.

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Yes, it is unfortunately true. The NFL does not allow players to use marijuana with no if, ands, or buts about it. Not for pain relief, recreational use, you name it. Players who live in a legal state are still not able to use marijuana. Players are suspended if they test positive for marijuana use. Even though, marijuana is proven to be a much better alternative for pain relief. These extremely addictive pills such as vicodin are allowed, while marijuana is banned. According to drugabuse.gov, over 47,000 people a year overdose on opioids. In the history of mankind, not one single person has ever overdosed on marijuana. This is downright absurd! It is asinine, asiten, asitwenty! The nerve of these rich, suit and tie wearing, briefcase having, people. They have no problem giving their players harmful pills, at an illegal rate, might I add. But they have the audacity to ban marijuana use. We are not living in the 1950s anymore NFL. Marijuana is not going to make these players fat from munchies. It is not going to make them unmotivated enough to not come to practice. It is not going to rot their brains. Move with progress! 

I decided to do a little more research and try and see the different products of CBD and THC. I wanted to find out how effective the use of these methods are. I stumbled across this video on YouTube. (https://youtu.be/05jEknLDEol) This woman suffered from deep, neurological pain for most of her life. It always felt as if her body was on fire. She would often wake up in the middle of the night, shaking and screaming in pain. She tried ever medicine, pill, tried every doctor. Nothing was working. She was fed up and decided she would get her medical marijuana card. She was, of course, approved and went to her nearest dispensary. She bought many different treatments. Liquid, topical rubs, and actual flower. The difference was night and day. Her pain had gone down a tremendous amount. She had far less attacks in the middle of the night. She finally felt relaxed and relieved. These pills and shots did not do that. Marijuana, THC, and CBD did. 

I ask for the NFL to change their ways. Stop giving these players harmful drugs that leave their players addicted, hurt mentally and physically for life.We can get this much needed change done if we all contribute. Spam the NFL with comments on social media. Reporters and people that are insiders of this great game need to complain also. The NFL needs to open up to these new treatments. Many peoples’ lives are at stake here. Enough of the pills, enough of the addiciton.