Davis and Adderall - He was targeted and for good reason

This article explains more than we have seen. Also raises questions about how much it may have helped Davis last year. Really like Davis but risky to sign long-term.

http://touch.baltimoresun.com/#section/-1/article/p2p-81432596/

It was known that it was harder to get the TUE but it is interesting to hear some of the details about what changed.

I have to question this part:

"When a player has a sudden spike in performance like that, that's when the authorities might just decide to take a second look at what's going on," said Dr. Richard Lustberg, a licensed psychologist in New York and member of the American Psychological Association who specializes in sports psychology.

That makes it sound like it was a targeted test that caught Davis the first time. I thought that without cause they could only random test?

As for the Greenie are just coffee crowd?

Today's amphetamines, though, do more than address that illness or increase stamina. They can deepen one's capacity to concentrate, and that's a boon for any athlete, with or without ADHD.

"It's not that [an ADHD sufferer] can't focus; it's that he attends to too many things. A batter needs to attend to the pitcher and the pitcher only, not distractions from the stands and the like. Adderall allows him to do that," Lustberg said.

The drug also sharpens hand-eye coordination and cuts reaction time

I think the question is then why give a TUE to any athlete at all. It sounds as though the drug has the capacity to increase performance for anyone and if so when an increase in performance does happen it looks as if someone is being targeted if they are taking it without an exemption.

Either no one should be denied or it should be banned altogether.

I think the question is then why give a TUE to any athlete at all. It sounds as though the drug has the capacity to increase performance for anyone and if so when an increase in performance does happen it looks as if someone is being targeted if they are taking it without an exemption.

Either no one should be denied or it should be banned altogether.

Lawsuits.

Like when the golfer sued the PGA for use of a golf cart during events.

I think the question is then why give a TUE to any athlete at all. It sounds as though the drug has the capacity to increase performance for anyone and if so when an increase in performance does happen it looks as if someone is being targeted if they are taking it without an exemption.

Either no one should be denied or it should be banned altogether.

Minor point, but use of this medication without a specific diagnosis is dangerous, stupid and illegal (not just the baseball illegal, but the real, DEA bust down your door illegal). People will do whatever, but it should be provided for individuals who have a documented diagnosis of ADHD, ONLY. (And this means that the individual had to have ADHD as a child or adolescent as well.)

A question I've not seen answered is the % of the general male population with ADHD. I wonder how that compares the % of ballplayers, since many more males have ADHD than women. Also if Davis was using Adderall 2012-2013 to boost his numbers, and was only caught twice, the testing program isn't very good. My guess is he failed in his last year in TEX by having too low levels of the drug in his system, and then again most recently. So either he wasn't using the Adderall during most of that time, the testing was very poor.

A question I've not seen answered is the % of the general male population with ADHD. I wonder how that compares the % of ballplayers, since many more males have ADHD than women. Also if Davis was using Adderall 2012-2013 to boost his numbers, and was only caught twice, the testing program isn't very good. My guess is he failed in his last year in TEX by having too low levels of the drug in his system, and then again most recently. So either he wasn't using the Adderall during most of that time, the testing was very poor.

So I take it you didn't bother to read the article?

Adderall leaves the system within 48 hours and there are ways to hasten that number.

A question I've not seen answered is the % of the general male population with ADHD. I wonder how that compares the % of ballplayers, since many more males have ADHD than women. Also if Davis was using Adderall 2012-2013 to boost his numbers, and was only caught twice, the testing program isn't very good. My guess is he failed in his last year in TEX by having too low levels of the drug in his system, and then again most recently. So either he wasn't using the Adderall during most of that time, the testing was very poor.

I'm pretty sure that Adderall only stays in your system for 2-3 days. If your an elite athlete constantly working out that time window could be even shorter. So, he could've been using it and just never got tested within that short window.

Minor point, but use of this medication without a specific diagnosis is dangerous, stupid and illegal (not just the baseball illegal, but the real, DEA bust down your door illegal). People will do whatever, but it should be provided for individuals who have a documented diagnosis of ADHD, ONLY. (And this means that the individual had to have ADHD as a child or adolescent as well.)

What if it was misdiagnosed as a child?

The possible "targeting" on the first test does raise some issues I guess.

A question I've not seen answered is the % of the general male population with ADHD. I wonder how that compares the % of ballplayers, since many more males have ADHD than women. Also if Davis was using Adderall 2012-2013 to boost his numbers, and was only caught twice, the testing program isn't very good. My guess is he failed in his last year in TEX by having too low levels of the drug in his system, and then again most recently. So either he wasn't using the Adderall during most of that time, the testing was very poor.

Isn't the amount or levels what Howell complained about in the link you posted? If the player is having affects from the drug they should not have to take more to satisfy MLB. The condition should be administered by the players doctors and MLB should stay out of it. As long as the prescription is being written by a reputable doctor there should be no issue.

So I take it you didn't bother to read the article?

Adderall leaves the system within 48 hours and there are ways to hasten that number.

No I did read the article. If a player can use the drug for 2 years without it being detected then the testing is inadequate period. Doesn't matter how long it remains in his system.

So how many tests a year do you recommend? 50 or so per player?

Minor point, but use of this medication without a specific diagnosis is dangerous, stupid and illegal (not just the baseball illegal, but the real, DEA bust down your door illegal). People will do whatever, but it should be provided for individuals who have a documented diagnosis of ADHD, ONLY. (And this means that the individual had to have ADHD as a child or adolescent as well.)

Well this is ridiculous. There are tons of kids who go undiagnosed. There are tons of parents who don't even believe ADHD exists and would never think to bring their kids in, or they refuse to believe their child could have a behavioral disorder. There are tons of people who don't begin to exhibit symptoms until they're adults. I have family members who didn't get diagnosed until they were in their 40s/50s.

So how many tests a year do you recommend? 50 or so per player?

I not recommending any, IMO testing is BS. It is for appearances only. If Davis gets caught twice in 2 years or more, and he once had a TUE, how many players are just using the stuff and not getting caught. A lot more than 119 I bet.

So if you are OK with something as potentially dangerous as Aderrall then Steroids and HGH should be allowed as well right?