Performance-Enhancing Drugs Raise Risk for Substance Abuse
Male college athletes who used performance-enhancing substances reported more problematic alcohol-use behaviors, and more alcohol- and drug-use–related problems than did nonusers, according to the results of an anonymous, self-reported questionnaire.
In addition, the performance-enhancing substance (PES) users were more likely to report use of tobacco products, proscribed drugs, and prescription drugs without a prescription within the past year.
The study comprised data from 233 male varsity student athletes with a mean age of 20.1 years, 84% of whom identified themselves as non-Hispanic whites. These students were divided into two groups based on their responses to the anonymous questionnaire that was administered at a single university during 2005–2006.
There were no differences between the groups in age or race. The 73 PES users were defined as those who self-reported use of a broad array of performance-enhancing substances, including stimulants, hormone precursors, and nutritional supplements, during the past year. The remaining 160 athletes were defined as non-PES users, reported Dr. Jennifer F. Buckman and her colleagues at Rutgers University, Piscataway, N.J.
“[The study] does suggest that PES users also often use other recreational drugs that themselves carry high addiction potential,” they wrote.
The PES users reported using the following substances within the last year: ephedrine (7%), banned substances (31%), weight-loss drugs (22%), and stimulants (73%).
They also reported significantly more frequent alcohol use than did nonusers. This included twice the number of episodes of heavy drinking, a significantly higher number of drinks on the heaviest drinking day, and significantly more alcohol-related problems (J. Stud. Alcohol Drugs 2009;70:919–23).
The study was sponsored by grants from the National Institute on Drug Abuse and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
The investigators reported no relevant disclosures.
