America Enables Michael Phelps

If Helen of Troy had the face that launched a thousand ships, then the British paper News of the World that recently published a photo of Michael Phelps has surely launched a thousand hits.

Of course, the hits that I am referring to are the countless number of Web site visits and Internet searches that have resulted from the the photo showing the Olympian using a bong while visiting the University of South Carolina.

Phelps displayed the speed we have all come to expect from him when he responded to the picture by releasing the following statement:

"I engaged in behavior which was regrettable and demonstrated bad judgment.  I'm 23 years old and despite the successes I've had in the pool, I acted in a youthful and inappropriate way, not in a manner people have come to expect from me.  For this, I am sorry.  I promise my fans and the public it will not happen again."

A collection of Phelps' sponsors have responded nearly as quickly. Omega watches struck first, using harsh words such as "non-issue" when describing Phelps' drug use.

Speedo let the world know exactly where Phelps stands with them. Michael Phelps is still a "valued member of the team," according to a spokesperson for the swimwear designer.

We knew it was only a matter of time before the International Olympic Committee (IOC) laid down the law.

Sure enough, the IOC is now on record expressing its confidence in Phelps' "sincerity and commitment to continue to act as a role model."

Quoting Will Ferrell as the melodramatic Mugatu in Zoolander: "I feel like I'm taking crazy pills!"

In the realm of addiction, an enabler is anyone who, by his or her actions, allows for an individual to continue in maladaptive or destructive behaviors. This is often done by providing money, making excuses for, or otherwise rescuing a person who is using.

Make no mistake: Omega watches, Speedo, the IOC, the talk radio hosts like Colin Cowherd of ESPN (who states that laws against marijuana use are merely "suggestions"), and those comfortable with Phelps simply apologizing and moving on are all enabling Phelps.

These organizations are complicit in the spread of illegal and dangerous drug use that runs rampant in America.

But wait—isn't Phelps a young guy who is entitled to make a mistake?

Yes, he is, and he made that mistake in November of 2004 when he was arrested in Salisbury, Maryland for a DUI. Once is a mistake, twice is a pattern.

What's the big deal? Marijuana isn't even addictive, much less dangerous, right?  Wrong.

Marijuana meets criteria set by the American Psychiatric Association and the World Health Organization, and qualifies as an addictive substance.

"The evidence on marijuana as being harmful is as strong as the evidence on tobacco was 20 years ago," said Dr. Michael Dennis, an expert on adolescents with drug and alcohol issues. Dennis was featured in the HBO series Addiction.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) reports that marijuana was a factor in 119,000 American emergency room visits in 2002 alone.

This is a dangerous, illegal, and addictive substance. It is a huge deal, and to believe otherwise is simply naive.

The reason that the effort to enable this behavior is so important is the same reason that big business turned to Phelps in the first place: Young people respond to Michael Phelps.

Companies do not pay athletes millions of dollars to stand by their products until they have completed exhaustive research on how the athlete affects sales of the product.

In short, giving Michael Phelps the green light to use marijuana without consequences is the same as giving a million others that same permission.

NIDA's published research indicates marijuana users are 15 times more likely than non-users to use cocaine, and 12 times as likely to use hallucinogens. So, how much damage can America expect to see from the decision to allow Phelps to use without significant consequences?

Phelps has always said he wants to use swimming as means to be an ambassador to children. 

"I have a passion for keeping kids safe," said Phelps in a 200 Sports Illustrated article.

In that same article, author Alan Shipnuck wrote that "Phelps's legacy will no longer be measured in medals."

Given Phelps' decision to use marijuana, and the overwhelming reaction to enable this use, I now believe that to be true. 

Unfortunately for us all, this is one "passion" where Phelps has failed.