Dr. Davis presenting at the annual Tactical Strength and Conditioning Conference (TSAC)

I’m excited to announce that I’ll be presenting on “Demilitarizing Academy Training.”

Register today to hear from me and other leaders in tactical strength and conditioning.

Last Words from Steve Jobs

I can't confirm for attribution this short piece as being from Steve Jobs; but no matter. This is excellent advice for everyone, no matter the source. The photo certainly appears to be Steve.

"Please treasure your family love, love for your spouse, love for your friends. Treat everyone well and stay friendly with your neighbors."

The last words of Steve Jobs -I have come to the pinnacle of success in business. In the eyes of others, my life has been the symbol of success. However, apart from work, I have little joy. Finally, my wealth is simply a fact to which I am accustomed. At this time, lying on the hospital bed and remembering all my life, I realize that all the accolades and riches of which I was once so proud, have become insignificant with my imminent death. In the dark, when I look at green lights, of the equipment for artificial respiration and feel the buzz of their mechanical sounds, I can feel the breath of my approaching death looming over me. 

Only now do I understand that once you accumulate enough money for the rest of your life, you have to pursue objectives that are not related to wealth. It should be something more important: For example, stories of love, art, dreams of my childhood. No, stop pursuing wealth, it can only make a person into a twisted being, just like me.

God has made us one way, we can feel the love in the heart of each of us, and not illusions built by fame or money, like I made in my life, I cannot take them with me. I can only take with me the memories that were strengthened by love. This is the true wealth that will follow you; will accompany you, he will give strength and light to go ahead.

Love can travel thousands of miles and so life has no limits. Move to where you want to go. Strive to reach the goals you want to achieve. Everything is in your heart and in your hands.

What is the world's most expensive bed? The hospital bed. You, if you have money, you can hire someone to drive your car, but you cannot hire someone to take your illness that is killing you. Material things lost can be found. But one thing you can never find when you lose: life. Whatever stage of life where we are right now, at the end we will have to face the day when the curtain falls.

Kratom, a High Risk Supplement

Lara Gray, MS, RDN, CSSD

by Lara Gray, MS, RDN, CSSD

National Center for Drug Free Sport, Inc
www.drugfreesport.com

Imagine if a dietary supplement was being sold online as providing its user with a “legal” and “safe” high. Marketers promoting the supplement as a natural way to alleviate fatigue, pain and depression – even to help combat opioid addiction. Sold as powders, capsules, whole leaves, leaf resins or extracts, or bulk liquids and also called thang, kakuam, thom, ketum, biak, or maeng da leaf—this is kratom.

Kratom leaves are closely related to the coffee family and have been used as a stimulant throughout Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries for decades. The leaves are chewed, smoked, brewed into tea, or broken down into powder form. As a botanical, kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is classified as a dietary ingredient under

the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. This designation allows the product to be sold as a dietary supplement rather than undergoing product and consumer testing as a pharmaceutical drug. Kratom supplements have shown rapid growth and are being sold through online distributors and local smoke shops.

 Example of kratom being sold from an on line
distributor; Photo credit: www.getkratom.com
Ultra enhanced Maneg, Da Kratom Extract  

In December 2015, the FDA issued an “Import Alert” that called for the “detention without physical examination of dietary supplements and bulk dietary ingredients that are or contain mitragyna speciosa or kratom.” The alert detailed that kratom is considered by the FDA as a “new dietary ingredient.” New dietary ingredients are those not marketed prior to the 1994 Dietary Supplement Health and Education Act (DSHEA), and per the legislation require FDA approval before being sold to consumers. FDA approval is dependent on establishing scientific evidence proving that the ingredient is safe for human consumption.

Not only is kratom currently being sold outside established FDA protocol, but research shows considerable issues with toxicity and health concerns associated with consumption. Notably, emergency room visits related to kratom ingestion began putting the substance on the map in 2012. Negative health consequences associated with kratom include hallucinations, paranoia, aggressive behavior, psychotic episodes, respiratory depression, nausea and vomiting. For a full list of adverse effects, please refer to Box 1.1.

The pharmacology of kratom has been described as providing both stimulant and sedative effects, often depending on the strain and dose consumed. The primary chemical constituent, mitragynine, has been identified as having specific opioid-like effects. Another constituent, O-desmethyltramadol, is the main active metabolite of tramadol, a narcotic opioid. Distributors tout kratom as a viable solution to help opioid addicts combat their dependence, yet research and drug rehabilitation programs are finding the substance to be highly addictive with significant withdrawal symptoms. Kratom is not a controlled substance in the United States and is legal in most states, currently appearing on the DEA’s list of “Drugs and Chemicals of Concern.”

 While use among athletes is largely unknown, the Drug Free Sport Resource Exchange Center (REC) has received inquiries about kratom in both 2015 and 2016. The concern is that athletes will consider kratom a recreational alternative to street drugs such as marijuana or K2 spice. Due to the stimulant effects, presence of an active opioid metabolite, documented serious health concerns, significant lack of scientific research and unregulated distribution as a dietary supplement, the REC has categorized kratom as a Risk Level III substance.

One of Drug Free Sport’s labs, the Clinical Reference Laboratory (CRL), has also confirmed that the kratom constituent, 7-hydroxymitragyine, can be screened and confirmed from urine samples should sport organizations choose to include it on a testing panel.

It is advised that sports medicine teams discuss the health implications and lack of regulation associated with dietary ingredients such as kratom. For more information on kratom or education resources, please contact Lara Gray at lgray@drugfreesport.com.

References:

Drug Enforcement Administration Office of Diversion Control, Drug & Chemical Evaluation Section. (2013). KRATOM (Mitragyna speciosa korth). Retrieved from:

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2016). Import Alert 54-15. Retrieved from:

Schwarz, Alan. “Kratom, an Addict’s Alternative, is found to Be Addictive Itself.” The New York Times. 2 January 2016. Web. 26 January 2016.

Drug Enforcement Administration. (2013). Drug Fact Sheet: Kratom. Retrieved from:

Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Professional Monograph. “Kratom.” Therapeutic Research Faculty; ©1995- 2016. Web. Accessed 26 January 2016.

Huus, Kari. “Asian leaf ‘kratom’ making presence felt in US emergency rooms.” NBC News. 16 March 2012. Web. 26 January 2016.

“Effects of Kratom.” Web log post. Narconon. Narconon International, n.d. Web. 26 Jan. 2016.

Kamloops Part II

Dr. Davis and the “Puck Drop” WHL Blazers Game

Since making the trip to Kamloops by way of Vancouver, I’ve been to Seattle and Yuma. But, more about those trips later. I only mention that to explain the delay in getting back to my office and organizing my activities to include the rest of the story of the Mighty Kamloops team. Part of the celebration was the recognition of Team New Gold at the WHL Kamloops Blazers game on Wednesday night. This was preceded by the City Council meeting on Tuesday where one of the council members asked about hosting a World Challenge in the future.

I was honored to do the ceremonial “Puck Drop” prior to the game. For those of you unfamiliar with hockey, it’s the analog to throwing out the first pitch at a baseball game.  I knew that the players wouldn’t be fighting for possession, but I couldn’t figure out why they would not provide me with some separation between the blades. So, I just dropped it in the available open space. The home team player picks it up and gives it to you. Very cool, actually very cold. The puck is frozen, and once thawed, now graces my office.

Scott was represented by Chuck Pecor, from Guillevin, the Scott distributor for British Columbia. He and I are easily distinguishable from the KFD team as we’re not wearing our Lion turnouts. We were afforded carpets to walk on, thereby avoiding an embarrassing situation at a Cap’s game in D.C. where we did a Victim Rescue simulation on the ice with a not-too-good outcome.

We also prepared a 90 sec video for display on the Jumbotron as well as at the City Council meeting the day before. You can view that here.

Capt Shawn Davidson, Bryce McMillan, Graham MacKenzie, Mark Brise, Mike Brown (with broken nose), Don Clarke and Josh Booy