DEA investigating rx drug abuse in NFL

[planetdoc]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/fo...ors_picks=true
(highlights)

The NFL, still reeling from allegations that it covered up the long-term dangers of concussions, is now facing a possible blitz from federal drug agents looking into the abuse of painkillers and other drugs.

The Drug Enforcement Administration has quietly launched an investigation into the abuse of prescription medication in NFL locker rooms, three sources familiar with the probe told the Daily News.

Agents from the DEA’s New York division are reaching out to former players to learn how NFL doctors and trainers get access to potent narcotics such as Percodan and Vicodin or anti-inflammatories such as Toradol, a nonaddictive prescription drug widely used around the league to treat pain.

“They want to find out who provided and distributed the drugs to football players,” one source said.

The DEA’s investigation began shortly after attorneys representing about 1,300 NFL retirees filed a class-action lawsuit in San Francisco federal court on May 20 that accuses the league of illegally providing prescription drugs to keep players on the field without informing them of the long-term risks.

[Dayze]

it's cool as long as only the offensive players are taking them. gotta keep that fantasy football machine churning baby

[Chiefshrink]

Slip and fall lawyers - "don't ya just love 'em??

[cmh6476]

sounds like , faders and dolts are guilty to me; better start looking

[BigRedChief]

NFL players are loading up on painkillers?

[Rasputin]

The DEA’s investigation began shortly after attorneys representing about 1,300 NFL retirees filed a class-action lawsuit in San Francisco federal court on May 20 that accuses the league of illegally providing prescription drugs to keep players on the field without informing them of the long-term risks.



Being naive and stupid grunt is no excuse not to "ask" questions about any side effects a drug may have long term. I mean the players go to college so they can't be that stupid right?

They have a choice to play a physical game. They have a choice to put legal or illegal forms of drugs into their bodies. I don't believe they are forced to take the medicine but they know it helps them over the pain to keep playing.

It's our choice to be a fan it is their choice to be players. No sympathy from me.

[Stewie]

How in the world would a doctor have access to prescription drugs? I'm completely baffled.

[planetdoc]

Originally Posted by KC Tattoo

Being naive and stupid grunt is no excuse not to "ask" questions about any side effects a drug may have long term. I mean the players go to college so they can't be that stupid right?

They have a choice to play a physical game. They have a choice to put legal or illegal forms of drugs into their bodies. I don't believe they are forced to take the medicine but they know it helps them over the pain to keep playing.

It's our choice to be a fan it is their choice to be players. No sympathy from me.

I would have to respectfully disagree.

First, The idea behind "informed consent" is that the players were properly informed of both the benefits and risks of medications they were given. The players are arguing that they were not properly informed of the risks, and thus their consent for taking the medication (and following the medical management) was invalid.

Second, Not only is the above issue an ethical problem, but so is the power structure set up by the NFL. Most of the team physicians were not independent, but hired by the team. Ultimately, the health care providers decisions should be made in the best interest of the patient, and not the employer (team). That may not have been always the case.

Third, players are under tremendous pressure to play. The NFL is known as "Not For Long", and a player who is injured (or refuses to play injured) is looked down on by management, fans, and sometimes other players. Some of those decisions (such as with concussions) should be taken out of the players and management hands, and looked at by an independent physician that is following a protocol that protects the patient.

The deeper issue and question is how much long term injury is acceptable to feed our blood lust and entertainment. No true NFL fan wants to see the game turn into flag football, but no true NFL fan should want to see the players they idolize and cherish suffer in their later years with serious medical conditions that could have been prevented.

As for me, I have no respect for health care providers that dont put their patients first. Those who knowingly jeopardized the health of their patients, and who did not get informed consent should face consequences for their actions.

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

Slip and fall lawyers - "don't ya just love 'em??

On that note, I own some shares of stock in a company that got a buyout offer recently. It's been a great stock for me for a decade or so, and was trading at $75 a share. Presumably that's the market value.

Some larger company offered them $85 a share, which is very nice. The price jumped $10 a share pretty quickly. It would seem logical that unless there's some huge inside information that hasn't been shared yet, $85 is above market and a very good price.

Well, at least 8 or 9 law firms have now announced that they're "investigating class-action suits" against the company to determine "whether $85 is a fair price". I know how this will end - the sleazy law firms will make some deal where they get a cash settlement and the shareholders get some absolutely useless "settlement" that gives them some free stock trades or something.

Also, in case anyone wonders whether insider trading happens, the stock was trading at $75 and then inexplicably gained about a dollar a day over the course of five days before the $85 price was announced, and then it shot up to $85. So ... why did it go up in the days beforehand? There was no news, nothing of interest. It just went up.