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Steven W. Noles, Psy.D.
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SUBSTANCE USE AND ABUSE
The issue of substance
use and abuse among student-athletes is an important one. While
it is true student-athletes are in great physical shape and generally
place a premium on being healthy and fit, the rather shocking truth is
that athletes tend to abuse alcohol and illegal drugs at a rate higher
than their non-athlete peers.
In one study, slightly more than half of the male athletes and about
one-third of the female athletes reported using alcohol as a means of
coping with the stress of college. A survey conducted by the NCAA
found the use of alcohol varied according to the team involved.
For example, in this 2001 study, wrestling had an 85.4% alcohol usage
rate, baseball had an 83.4% alcohol usage rate, and men’s basketball
had a 74.1% usage rate, while women’s soccer had an 86.9% alcohol usage
rate and women’s softball had an 85.3% usage rate. In almost
every study to date, the usage rate is higher for male athletes.
A rather disturbing finding is that nearly 60% of student-athletes
believed their use of alcohol had no effect on their athletic
performance or their general health. Often in my clinical
practice with student-athletes take this stance, I sidestep this
maladaptive belief and approach it from a vantage point of whether the
use of alcohol is helping him/her achieve his/her athletic and academic
goals. In other words, it may not be hurting (I suspect it is but
why argue about it), but is it helping? My clients universally
agree their substance use is not helping.
Don't assume that since someone is an athlete the use of alcohol or
some other substance is lower; the opposite is more likely. When
this is an identified area of concern, the time has come for a
consultation/evaluation with a qualified mental health professional,
preferably one who is skilled at working with student-athletes.
For additional help in this area, contact HeadsUp Sports
Consulting.
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