Table of Contents:
[ General / Adrenergic
/ Amphetamine ]
[ Ergogenic / Hormones
/ Steroids ]
[ Over the Counter / Recreational
/ Related ]
What is the background of drug use in sport?
During the past 30 years the use of performance enhancing substances
in athletics increased at every level of competition. Student
athletes have used different supplements including vitamins
and minerals, amino acid supplements, anabolic steroids and
other anabolic substances, stimulants, painkillers, and a variety
of illegal street drugs. Husch (1995) and Wagner (1991) suggested
that student athletes use substances due to complex social,
psychological, physiological, economic and political factors.
In general, findings from different surveys indicate
that:
- Decisions not to use drugs and alcohol are personal ones
and were not based on coaches' rules or laws.
- Since 1989, fewer athletes feel there is a problem of
illegal drug use by college athletes.
- Some student athletes perceive institutionally-based and
NCAA drug testing to be "easy to beat" and report
that either they or a teammate have "beaten" a
drug test in the past.
- Student athletes are more aware of the drug education
efforts of their schools and generally rate their school's
drug education and counseling services to be either "good"
or "excellent."
- Additional research is needed relative to the alcohol
and drug use habits of college student-athletes.
What are some of the most important recent findings
from the NCAA National Study of the Substance Abuse Habits of
Student Athletes?
Find out the current information related to this topic directly
from the NCAA web site.
What are some reasons why student athletes take different
kinds of drugs?
Student athletes have used drugs:
- to cope with academic and athletic stress
- to speed up increases in strength and physical size
- to socialize and relax after competition
What is the current status of social/recreational
drug use among student athletes?
In spite of many different prevention efforts, including drug
testing, drug education, stronger policies established by
athletic departments in institutions across the United States,
social drugs, referred to as recreational drugs continue to
be used by student athletes. A recent NCAA study indicates
that marijuana/hashish use among student athletes has increased
over the past four years.
