The use of Adderall has come into question a number of times in esports history. In CS:GO it was actually banned, unless prescribed by a doctor, due to the rampant and clear use by some players as a performance enhancing drug. Adderall, for those who are unaware, is a drug which is taken to help with concentration. Like Ritalin or Concerta it’s used to to manage Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and is also abused by a number of people including students when it comes time to study. I, personally, have tried Concerta while gaming (I’m not competitive) and can attest to the effect on your concentration and mind set whilst on the drug.
According to Dextero, Adderall use in competitive Call of Duty Console has been a rampant issue as of late. Players take the drug for the advantage or clearer cut decision making and overall concentration boosts. The Call of Duty World League Stage 1 came to an end recently, and again the question of Adderall was brought up on Twitter, and discussed by SlasheR.
Hate when a team wins and y'all all talk about addy like every team up there isn't on addy lol
— Francisco Vega (@MoB_Jigga) May 28, 2017
Nice little sponsor drop there by SlasheR, but it then became evident that the use of Adderall is a clear issue in Call of Duty.
@EnVy_SlasheR @MoB_Jigga No wonder you lost sheesh your brain is 2 seconds behind theirs
— LyaR (@RayLyaR) May 28, 2017
It seems the use of Adderall has been swept under the rug as it’s rather hard to regulate it and properly test for it. Players can receive prescriptions from pretty much anywhere as a diagnosis for ADHD (which the drug is meant for) is not the only use for it. The conversation continued about the prescriptions on Twitter.
@EnVy_SlasheR @RayLyaR @MoB_Jigga They need to just ban it unless prescribed. Even then it should be limited.
— Ryan (@NVT_Reptar) May 28, 2017
It seems that players who take it are taking a bit more than what would usually be prescribed, and this means their concentration levels are much higher than usual. This is, unfortunately, a result of infant industry and that proper regulations are not in place for all esports. The ESL put a ban on it, and it seems it’s going to follow with a few other titles now that light is being shed on the situation.
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Last Updated: May 30, 2017
Original Heretic
May 30, 2017 at 14:16
For esports to be taken seriously by the “mainstream” world, they’re going to have issue drug regulations. Performance enhancing drugs are a real thing in all sports and all forms of sport go through the headaches to regulate and prevent them.
HairyEwok
May 30, 2017 at 14:17
Adderall, the esports equivalent of doping…
Magoo
May 30, 2017 at 14:35
Even when prescribed by a doctor, to someone who genuinely needs to use it, it would be a performance-enhancing advantage. I say ban it all-out, we’ve survived thousands of years without it. If you really need it that much then face your ultimatum.
Original Heretic
May 30, 2017 at 14:42
All sport is the same in that regard. You might have a medical reason for taking a certain medication, prescribed by a doctor, but if that stuff is picked up in your bloodstream when they test, you get banned.
Gavin Mannion
May 30, 2017 at 14:44
yup this is exactly my thoughts on it… if you need a performance enhancing drug for a medical reason then I’m sorry you can’t compete. Life’s a bitch…
Original Heretic
May 30, 2017 at 14:55
Sometimes drugs that aren’t even performance enhancing, but on the “blacklist”, still get sportsmen and women banned.
Right now in the UFC, if a fighter is tested and seen to have “marijuana metabolites” in their system, they get suspended. Even if they have a license for it. Even though it is now legal in most states in the US.
And that stuff isn’t exactly a “performance enhancing drug”.
The late and very great Mr Williams said it best.
https://uploads.disquscdn.com/images/e31b4c2ab7523dcf67beb390064c4935c4ee85a9fa77a5dbe1342f07b712499b.jpg
Skyblue
May 30, 2017 at 15:27
Agreed that it isn’t a performance enhancing drug. However, it is considered as a pain inhibiter thereby making it illegal to use before a fight in the UFC. Not even sleeping tablets are allowed the night before a fight due to possible negative effects on the fighters body the day of the fight.
It has been proven to assist with pain management and many fighters do use it out of competition.
Original Heretic
May 30, 2017 at 15:31
Yes, I hear and agree.
It still seems a bit overkill, though, especially when metabolites can stick around for weeks, sometimes months, long after any beneficial effects have passed.
Skyblue
May 30, 2017 at 15:37
It is all just very silly when Anderson Silva gets popped for proper PED’s and gets a 1yr suspension but Nick Diaz got a 5yr ban (initially) for a plant.
Original Heretic
May 30, 2017 at 15:42
Yah, that was rather dumb.
Though, I think in Nick’s case, it may well be a performance enhancing drug. Considering that he once beat Takanori Gomi with a gogoplata and his after fight test results showing his THC levels were so elevated, he was very likely high DURING the fight.
Skyblue
May 30, 2017 at 15:44
He can’t stay clean for more than 24hrs before a fight. Popped 3 times already, insane dude but he can bang.
Original Heretic
May 30, 2017 at 15:49
Yeah, he can fight, but I’ve never been a Diaz brothers’ fan. The only fighter from Cesar’s Gracie’s camp I like is Gil Melendez.
The rest of them? Can’t stand their attitudes.
Skyblue
May 30, 2017 at 15:54
You gonna get a 209 bitch slap! ;-p
Original Heretic
May 30, 2017 at 15:59
They’re the ones getting slapped these days!
Nick is just plain irritating me, all this talk from him about taking whatever fight they give him if the money is right, then declining everything they offer him. Arrogance like that, gawd, it annoys me.
As good as you think you might be, you have to back it up inside the octagon.
Skyblue
May 30, 2017 at 15:29
According Lance Armstrong if everyone’s cheating it’s still a fair competition ;-p
HvR
May 30, 2017 at 15:25
How the hell do people get the stuff?
IT is bloody expensive and Schedule 6; just one small thing wrong and the pharmacy chases you away. I’m pretty sure it is easier to get any type illegal drug.
miaau
May 30, 2017 at 15:35
I have wondered that too.
Seems the illegal market is easier to tap into than we, honest joes, think
miaau
May 30, 2017 at 15:40
” Players can receive prescriptions from pretty much anywhere as a diagnosis for ADHD (which the drug is meant for) is not the only use for it”
These drug is highly regulated in South Africa and, in theory, monitored both in terms of who prescribes and who uses in a central way (used to be like that many years ago, when my mother worked in pharmacy). In practise, if this means anything, I do not know.
I do know, as HVR said below, the pharmacists sign a book, get stuff out the safe and generally do not let the assistants deal with my scripts. They take it very, very seriously. They really do.
HvR
May 30, 2017 at 15:50
Regulations have been updated couple of months ago, now illegal for even pharmacist assistant to touch, pack out or dispense it.
Some pharmacy even wants doctors to sign the script in non-black coloured ink
miaau
May 30, 2017 at 15:58
ah, so that explains the “I cannot help you” thing of earlier this month.
HvR
May 30, 2017 at 15:59
Jip heard the whole story on Saturday from the pharmacy assistant while we waited for the pharmacist