Alcohol, Tobacco, Illicit Drugs, and Performance Enhancers: A Comparison of Use by College Student Athletes and Nonathletes

Abstract

Objective-The authors compared the prevalence and pattern of substance use in undergraduate student athletes and nonathletes from 2005-2006. Participants-Authors collected data from male (n = 418) and female (n = 475) student athletes and nonathletes from [2005][2006]. Methods-The authors administered self-report questionnaires to assess prevalence, quantity, and frequency of alcohol and drug use, and to determine patterns of student athletes' alcohol and drug use during their athletic season versus out of season.Results-Male student athletes were at high risk for heavy drinking and performance-enhancing drug use. Considerable in-season versus out-of-season substance use fluctuations were identified in male and female student athletes.Conclusions-Additional, and possibly alternative, factors are involved in a student athlete's decision-making process regarding drug and alcohol use, which suggests that the development of prevention programs that are specifically designed to meet the unique needs of the college student athlete may be beneficial. Keywordsalcohol; athletics; college students; other drugs; performance-enhancing drugs; sex The use of alcohol and drugs by students is one of the most serious problems facing colleges today. Student athletes may be particularly at risk for substance use-related problems in the college setting due to their unique social environments, the increased physical demands of athletics, and the heightened stress and time constraints placed upon them by fulfilling the dual role of athlete and student. 1,2 Therefore, the college experience of student athletes may be distinct from nonathletes, 2 which raises the question of whether substance use interventions geared toward the general student body are equally effective for college student athletes. 1 In this study, we assessed the prevalence, quantity, and frequency of alcohol and drug use by male and female undergraduate student athletes and nonathletes. We also evaluated patterns of use, such as student athletes' alcohol and drug use during their athletic season versus out of season. Comprehensively assessing the prevalence and patterns of substance use in male and female student athletes and how it differs from nonathletes of the same sex may inform the development of prevention interventions that focus on the specific needs of student athletes.For comments and further information, address correspondence to Dr Helene R. White, Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, 607 Allison Road, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA (hewhite@rutgers.edu). NIH Public Access NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author ManuscriptIn the United States, the rates of heavy drinking, tobacco use, and illicit substance use peak between ages 18 and 25 years. 3 This age range coincides with a period of major transition out of high school and, for many, into college. In the college setting, frequent and heavy drinking is common. Using data collected from 5 national surveys, O'Malley and Johnston 4 estimat...

Taking a Timeout to Ensure Well-Being: Social Work Involvement in College Sports

“…Such findings are applicable to both male and female college athletes (Yusko et al, 2008). White male college athletes are the most likely to engage in binge drinking (Yusko et al, 2008).…”

“…In addition to higher rates of alcohol consumption, college athletes are significantly more likely than non-athletes to use certain forms of illicit drugs and performance enhancing drugs (PEDs, substances used by people to improve their performance in the sports in which they participate) (Yusko et al, 2008). Yusko and colleagues (2008) found that male college athletes are more likely than nonathletes to use methamphetamines, banned performance enhancers, and approved performance enhancers.…”

“…White male college athletes are the most likely to engage in binge drinking (Yusko et al, 2008). College athletes that attend a HBCU participate in dangerous alcohol consumption 51% of the time, which is slightly less than the rate at non HBCU schools (52% -85%) (Wagner, Liles, Broadnax, & Nuriddin-Little, 2006).…”

“…In recent studies, researchers discovered college athletes are significantly more likely than non-athletes to engage in binge drinking and other forms of high-risk alcohol consumption (Ford, 2007a;Williams et al, 2008;Yusko et al, 2008).…”

“…Current literature examining psychosocial risks of college athletes correlates athletic participation (both scholarship and non-scholarship) with an increase in depression and suicide attempts (Armstrong & Oomen-Early, 2009;Gill, 2008), alcohol use (Ford, 2007a;Williams, Perko, Udan, Leeper, Belcher, & Leaver-Dunn, 2008;Yusko, Buckman, White, & Pandina, 2008), illicit substance use (including performance enhancers) (Yusko et al, 2008), the development of eating disorders (Greenleaf, Petrie, Carter, & Reel, 2009;McLester, Hardin, & Hoppe, 2014), and lower levels of overall well-being (Watson & Kissinger, 2007).…”