Drug Use and Alcohol Consumption in Sport

Justification for Banning Drugs in Sport

• The use of drugs is prohibited based on several legal and ethical grounds:

  • Illegal nature: Many substances used for performance enhancement are banned by law.

  • Negative effects and harm: Use of these substances poses significant health risks and harmful side effects to the athlete.

  • Inappropriate role modeling: Athletes serve as public figures; drug use sets a negative example for youth and the public.

  • Pressure and coercion: The presence of drug use in sports creates an environment where other athletes feel pressured or coerced to consume substances to remain competitive.

  • Unequal opportunities and unfairness: Substance use creates an unlevel playing field, violating the principles of fair competition.

  • Financial burden: The cost of acquiring performance-enhancing substances places an undue financial strain on athletes.

  • Reinforcement of negative attitudes: Drug use promotes and reinforces a "win at all costs" mentality that undermines the spirit of sport.

  • Behavioral enhancement: Substances are banned because they enhance behavior beyond natural limits.

  • Artificial enhancement: They artificially alter human performance and behavioral outcomes.

  • Alteration of the sport model: Substance use changes the fundamental nature and integrity of the sports model.

  • Insult to the human body: The use of artificial substances is viewed as a fundamental insult to the capabilities and health of the human body.

Reasons for the Prevalence of Substance Use in Modern Sport

• High Stakes: The massive stakes involved in contemporary sports have directly fueled the research and development of new substances.

• Technology and Human Limits: There is a growing fascination with utilizing technology to push the boundaries of human physical limits.

• Rationalization of the Body: The body is increasingly viewed as a machine to be optimized and rationalized for maximum output.

• Self-Medication: There is a heavy societal and athletic emphasis on self-medication to manage pain and performance.

• Changing Gender Relations: Shifts in gender dynamics and expectations have influenced the drive for substance-based enhancement.

• Organization of Elite Sports: The structure of power and performance sports dictates that athletes must win to continue their careers and play.

• Systemic Encouragement of Deviant Overconformity: Coaches, sponsors, administrators, and fans often clearly encourage athletes to engage in deviant overconformity to achieve results.

• Social Structure and Control: The social structure of elite sports demands total control over the body and absolute conformity to the demands of coaching staff.

Factors Influencing Athletes’ Decisions to Use Performance Enhancing Drugs

• Individual Desire to Succeed: The personal drive for achievement and victory.

• External Pressure to Win: Systemic pressure from multiple sources, including:

  • Self-imposed expectations.

  • Coaches.

  • Fans.

  • Media.

  • Sponsors.

• Injury Recovery: Using substances to expedite the healing process and return to competition faster.

• Appearance Improvement: Utilizing drugs to enhance physical aesthetics.

• Role Modeling: Emulating the behaviors of others in the field.

• Social Support: Influence from the athlete's social circle.

• Psychological Factors: Curiosity, boredom, or the pursuit of fun.

• Superman Complex: A psychological state described as an "Expectation of Entitlement."

• Stress and Time Management: Utilizing substances to cope with the rigorous schedules and stressors of professional athletics.

• Performance Anxiety: Drugs used to mitigate nerves or anxiety regarding athletic performance.

• Drug Culture: A pervasive culture that encourages self-medication and self-stimulation.

Signs and Indicators of Drug Use

• Physical Indicators:

  • Sudden or unexplained gains in performance.

  • Other significant changes in athletic performance.

  • Muscular twitches and tremors.

  • Poor coordination.

  • Profuse sweating.

  • Jaundice (yellowing of the skin or eyes).

• Behavioral and Psychological Indicators:

  • Changes in overall behavior, including signs of addiction or the use of other drugs.

  • Major personality changes, such as depression or increased insecurities.

  • Loss of sleep, specifically a reduction in $REM$ sleep.

  • Impaired judgment.

  • Poor hygiene and grooming habits.

Patterns of Alcohol Consumption among Student-Athletes

• Performance Impact: Approximately $1/3$ of athletes have performed poorly in practice or a game due to alcohol consumption.

• Seasonal Variation: Athletes tend to drink less during their competitive season.

• Timing of Consumption:

  • $32\%$ consume alcohol after practice.

  • $66\%$ consume alcohol after competition.

  • Very few athletes drink before practice or competition.

• Quantity of Drinks in One Setting:

  • $1$ to $2$ drinks: $18\%$

  • $3$ to $5$ drinks: $39\%$

  • $6$ to $9$ drinks: $30\%$

  • $10+$ drinks: $14\%$

• Binge-Drinking Statistics (Defined as $5+$ drinks):

  • $78\%$ of male athletes engage in binge-drinking.

  • $62\%$ of female athletes engage in binge-drinking.

  • Student-athletes binge-drink $3 \times$ more frequently than non-athletes.

• Negative Consequences Experienced by Athletes:

  • Hangovers, memory loss, arguments, and physical sickness.

  • Driving under the influence ($DUI$).

  • Violence.

  • Date rape and sexual assaults.

  • Academic issues, including failure and dropping out.

• Team Leaders' Behavior:

  • Team leaders consume the same total number of drinks as other teammates but engage in binge-drinking more often.

Strategies for Controlling Substance Use

• Where to Start:

  • Critically examine the hypocrisy found within elite sports structures.

  • Establish clear rules indicating that health risks are both undesirable and unnecessary in sports.

  • Enforce rules requiring that injured athletes be independently certified as "well" by a medical professional before being allowed to play.

  • Educate young athletes to redefine concepts such as courage and discipline in ways that prioritize and promote health.

• Long-term Control Strategies:

  • Critically examine values and norms within the sporting culture.

  • Establish a formal code of ethics specifically for sport scientists.

  • Create norms that regulate the use of technological advancements in performance.

  • Redefine the cultural meaning of achievement.

  • Teach athletes to think critically about their choices and the sports industry.

  • Provide accurate, current, and scientifically sound information regarding substances.