2008 was a year of great accomplishment for many professional athletes (MIchael Phelps and Nastia Liukin to name a few). For others it was a year of total FAIL! Sure, many failed on the field, but it was their idiotic actions in the off time that we will remember for years and years to come.  From steroids and pot to the unfortunate DUI, let us remember: The Year in Sports: Substance Abuse Edition.

In a study by the Journal of American College Health, researchers learned that consumption of energy drinks by teens, while increasing heart rates and allowing your to stay awake in class, is also linked to “unprotected sex, substance abuse and violence.”

From the IHT.com:

The study’s author, Kathleen Miller, an addiction researcher at the University of Buffalo, says it suggests that high consumption of energy drinks is associated with “toxic jock” behavior, a constellation of risky and aggressive behaviors including unprotected sex, substance abuse and violence. Read more

Chances are many of you reading this have abused cold medicines in the past.  It’s such a rampant problem that the South Park guys dedicated an episode to it.

The government’s Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration said 3 million young people in the United States between the ages of 12 and 25 admitted getting high off the medicines at least once.

The Agency said an overdose on cold medicine may result in serious life-threatening adverse reactions, including irregular heartbeat, delirium and death.

People abuse cold medicine for a sh*t load of reasons!

Here are a few: Read more