Painkillers, the dark side of sports

'An absolute problem'

Prescription narcotics fall into the category of opioids, which include powerful drugs like morphine, codeine, fentanyl, methadone and heroin. Opioids attach to receptors in the central nervous system, preventing the brain from receiving pain messages. In addition to masking pain, they produce feelings of euphoria, invincibility and illusions of athletic prowess beyond athletic ability. Commonly prescribed pain pills include Lortab, Vicodin and OxyContin.

Pain medication abuse has skyrocketed in all aspects of society, across the nation and in Utah, the past few years, and fatal overdoses are alarmingly frequent. Athletes may be at higher risk for pain and therefore overdoses than other adults, according to Utah state epidemiologist Christy Porucznik.

As far back as 1991, a study found prescription painkillers the most commonly misused opioid among college athletes. Another study the same year showed 75 percent of college athletes used them for sports-related injuries.

"It's a problem. It's an absolute problem," said Sandra Knowles, a Provo psychiatric nurse practitioner who has treated athletes during her 10-year career.

Pain control is one of the biggest issues sports medicine doctors face when treating injured players. Still, overuse of pain pills draws little attention in college athletic programs.

Amos, who lives in Augusta, Ga., found it "mind-boggling" two years ago that no one was talking about the perils of painkillers. He combined master's degrees in sports management and drug rehab counseling to develop Prevention Education for Athletes. His specialty is opiate addiction.

He might be the only person in the college game talking about it now.

"I've seen a lot of deaths with this addiction. It's not a pretty sight. I can honestly say I've gotten numb to it," said Amos, a former academic mentor to the LSU men's basketball team.

Path to addiction

Locally, two BYU football players the past six years died of causes related to heavy, prolonged narcotics use after an injury.

Former offensive guard Craig Garrick died at age 41 after abdominal surgery six years ago last month. He underwent at least eight knee surgeries during and after his football career.

In May 2006, 30-year-old former linebacker Brad Martin was found dead in his Sugar House home. Martin's spiral began after injuring his neck in a car accident on the way to football practice.

Amos initially couldn't get anyone to listen to his presentation "Athletes and Painkillers: Opiate Addiction Prevention." Some college administrators told him they didn't want him talking to players about painkillers.