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Drug use sad

2.25PM 31-8-2010

By Daniel Harford

Peering through The Glass today I see another sad example of players willingly experimenting with drugs in the AFL.

Like many this morning I awoke to the front page of the paper to see Hawk youngster Travis Tuck found unconscious from a suspected drug overdose.

The real concern, while I will never condone any drug use whatsoever, is that the substance that is alleged to have been the problem is the drug known as GBH.

What I have learned in the last week is that no longer is marijuana a concern for young people - it's more potent drugs such as GHB which are being used.

Ben Cousins spoke of his battle to find inner peace in his show last week.

I know that there are lots out there fighting the same battle, but surely there's another way.

The Glass of young people today is really sad.

Comments

Posted by Singapore Lions at 2.54PM 2-9-2010

Time to start peering thru the otherside of the window. There is a real world out there and at the end of the day, it is not a question of who is placing blame, but on accepting of responsibilities. For clubs and coaches to criticise the games administration is a sad reflection on the clubs and ooaches. If the clubs were truly concerned about player welfare they should adopt their own testing and pastoral care management, and in that way, they wouldnt need to rely on the league. Hopefully the Tuck family can work things thru.

Posted by Luke at 7.32PM 1-9-2010

There are so many angles that people have taken on this hot topic and most have been very relevant. I myself work in the community with people who are a bit older than the footy players and obviously come from a lot less support. I find it amazing that Ben cousins documentary was entitled "such is life". No Ben you should have called the bloody thing "this is my life". I think if Travis Tuck has great support around him especially from his family he will be ok. Bryan Cousins did a great job of saving Ben from further harm also. If Ben realised that someone with a drug addiction can end up with nothing then maybe we would see a bloke who really has come to terms with the severity of it all. Young ones are experimenting out in the clubs and I would encourage the AFL to consider human life before worrying about its brand.

Posted by Ken at 8.47AM 1-9-2010

Ok...lets see here. If you get caught using in the "Real World" you go to jail, lose your job depending on your situation. In the "AFL World" you get three chances, a bunch of help and then you get top come back after all is said and done....you do the math. YOu have to take a urine test to get some jobs in work, but you dont get 3 chances to pass that. What if you were on a plane, train or automobile, and you knew that the pilot or driver had 1 or 2 strikes in the "drug policy" usually that doesnt happen...one and done. Just ridiculous...dont say there is a not a double standard...or do you media spin on this comment...because it doesnt exist..cold hard facts.

Posted by Doctor at 11.54PM 31-8-2010

If he had died from the overdose, the AFL would be in trouble for not going to greater lengths to help him. i.e. Telling the Football club.

Posted by Hock at 11.36PM 31-8-2010

Whilst the use of drugs is a sad and on going social problem, surely the AFL had to take a stronger stance than simply 12 week suspension ( 8 if you consider Tuck can play State League Footy ). What this basically amounts to is a lesser punishment for the continued use of drugs by a player than for the indescretions perpetrated by Stevie Baker. I think if you ask anyone the obvious question, they would all answer is the same. T Tuck seems to have gotten off very lightly. A chance for the AFL to show they are serious about the obvious drug culture in the clubs has gone begging, and a dangerously weak precedent has been set here. Cousins got banned for longer and he had never tested positive. The AFL have a lot to answer for. I am disgusted.