Alcohol, tobacco, illicit drugs, and performance enhancers: a comparison of use by college student athletes and nonathletes.
OBJECTIVE
The authors compared the prevalence and pattern of substance use in undergraduate student athletes and nonathletes from 2005-2006.


METHODS
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.
Yusko
David A
DA
The Center of Alcohol Studies, The State University of New Jersey, Rutgers, Piscataway.
Buckman
Jennifer F
JF
White
Helene R
HR
Pandina
Robert J
RJ
D000293:Adolescent; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D054874:Athletic Performance; D003657:Decision Making; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D013287:Illicit Drugs; D008297:Male; D009515:New Jersey; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
D013287:Illicit Drugs