Risk profile of male college athletes who use performance-enhancing substances.
OBJECTIVE
There is a general perception that use of performance-enhancing substances (PESs) does not fit the standard profile of substance use. This study sought to determine whether users of PESs report high-risk patterns of alcohol and other drug use and demonstrate risk behaviors associated with problematic substance use.


METHODS
Anonymous self-report questionnaires were administered to a sample of 234 male student athletes. PES users were defined as college athletes who reported past-year use of a broad array of PESs (including stimulants, hormone precursors, and nutritional supplements).


RESULTS
Male athlete PES users (n = 73) compared with nonusers (n = 160) reported more problematic alcohol-use behaviors and more alcohol- and drug-use-related problems. The former compared with the latter was also more likely to report past-year use of tobacco products, marijuana, cocaine, psychedelics, and prescription drugs without a prescription. In addition, PES users demonstrated higher sensation seeking, and greater coping and enhancement motivations for drinking and marijuana use than non-PES users.


CONCLUSIONS
Although banned PESs are not typically viewed as having a high addiction potential, male athletes who use these drugs may be more likely to participate in other problematic substance-use behaviors. Importantly, the male athletes in this study who reported PES use also participated in substance-use behaviors that can have profound negative effects on athletic performance. More research on the use of PESs in college athletes is needed.
Buckman
Jennifer F
JF
Center of Alcohol Studies, Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, Piscataway, NJ 08854-8001, USA. jbuckman@rutgers.edu
Yusko
David A
DA
White
Helene R
HR
Pandina
Robert J
RJ
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D019973:Alcohol-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D045930:Anabolic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D054874:Athletic Performance; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants / Q000008:administration & dosage; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D015438:Health Behavior; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009042:Motivation; D012307:Risk Factors; D012309:Risk-Taking; D013177:Sports; D013334:Students / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology; D014495:Universities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
D045930:Anabolic Agents; D000697:Central Nervous System Stimulants