PED users more likely to abuse alcohol, drugs

College athletes who take performance-enhancing substances are more likely to misuse alcohol and drugs, finds a new study.

The study showed that those who used performance enhancers, ranging from steroids to stimulants to weight-loss supplements, were more likely to admit heavy drinking and using drugs like marijuana and cocaine.

They also had elevated rates of alcohol- and drug-related problems, such as missing classes, failing tests or getting into fights.

During the study, the research team led by Dr. Jennifer F. Buckman, assistant research professor at the Rutgers University Center of Alcohol Studies, found that nearly one-third of the athletes acknowledged using a performance-enhancing substance in the past year.

The findings revealed that 70 percent said they had used marijuana and one-third admitted to cocaine use, versus 22 percent and 3 percent of athletes who did not use performance-enhancing substances.

They also had higher rates of smoking, binge drinking and prescription-drug misuse.

Moreover, athletes who used performance-enhancing substances were more likely than nonusers to be natural sensation seekers, a desire to have new and varied experiences, but they were also more likely to say they used drugs or alcohol specifically to cope with stress and anxiety.

This, according to the study co-author Dr. Robert J. Pandina, suggests that these athletes often see a “utilitarian value” to using recreational drugs.

“They are using them to cope with the problems of day-to-day living,” he added.
Pandina points out that although many college students are under pressure, athletes - particularly those at the most competitive schools - may face additional stress. The study appears in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.