The National Hockey League admits it has a problem. A drug problem.

NHL deputy commi sioner that drug tests have revealed an increase in cocaine use among players. The growing number of players using cocaine, and drugs like it, has the league concerned. The NHL is beginning Darnell Mooney Jerseys talks to add the drug to a list of banned substances.

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"The number of cocaine positives are more than they were in previous years and they're going up," Daly said. "I wouldn't say it's a crisis in any sense. What I'd say is drugs like cocaine are cyclical and you've hit a cycle where it's an 'in' drug again.

"I'd be shocked if we're talking about a couple dozen guys. I don't want to be nave here but if we're talking more than 20 guys Tarik Cohen Jerseys I'd be shocked. Because we don't test in a comprehensive Alex Bars Jerseys way, I can't say."

The report says the league collects2,400 player urine samples each year and one-third of thoseare screened more closely for drugs of abuse, such as cocaine.

The cocaine i sue has been brought up following a few notable arrests involving.In 2014, the Lightning'sRyan Malone was . During the offseasonformer KingsplayerJarret Stoll .

Stoll's arrest led to an into the i sue and it revealed the proce s behind how punishment works. Here's an excerpt:

The NHL-NHLPA's joint drug-testing program is not specifically designed to target recreational drugs such as cocaine or marijuana. The Performance Enhancing Duke Shelley Jerseys Substances Program is put into place to do exactly that screen for performance-enhancing drugs.

The joint NHL-NHLPA program administers extra testing on one-third of tests that screen for recreational drugs, a source confirmed.But even if a player tests positive, it would not trigger a suspension. In Artie Burns Jerseys fact, it would not even trigger a visit from the Substance Abuse and Behavioral Health Program doctors unle s a result "shows a dangerously high level for a drug of abuse such that it causes concern for the health or safety of the player or others," according to the CBA.

The program's doctors warn players in rookie orientation and in team visits during the season about the perils of drug use, but there is skepticism about how effective a lecture from a middle-aged physician is on players. Said a source knowledgeable of the program: Jesper Horsted Jerseys "It's like your parents telling you not to drink."

Daly told TSN the league will focus more on drugs this season to try and educate players.

"One major point of emphasis is party drugs like coke, ecstasy, molly, those types of drugs," Daly said. "When bad things happen, we try to addre s the bad things."