According to researchers, male athletes who used substances ranging from steroids, stimulants and weight-loss supplements were more prone to heavy drinking and doing drugs like marijuana and cocaine.
In an effort to determine the use of performance enhancers among athletes, Dr. Jennifer F. Buckman, assistant research professor at the Center of Alcohol Studies at Rutgers University, and her colleagues surveyed 234 males at a northeastern university.
The participants were questioned about their alcohol and recreational drug use along with their risk-taking behaviors.
Observations by researchers
According to researchers, athletes using performance enhancers reported a higher rate of substance abuse compared to those who avoided performance enhancers.
Thirty one percent of the participants confessed using substances like anabolic steroids, creatine, "Andro" stimulants, weight-loss aids and banned nutritional supplements in the previous year.
70 percent athletes who took steroids and stimulants used marijuana while one third used cocaine. However, in the non-drug group, the use of marijuana and cocaine was far less; 22 and 3 percent respectively.
In addition, the researchers found that athletes using performance enhancers were more prone to cutting classes, failing exams and getting into brawls.
They also had higher rates of smoking, abuse of prescription drugs, and binge drinking.
Other than that, steroid use was linked to a surge in suicide cases and depression
among the teenagers.
Co-author of the study Dr. Robert J. Pandina stated that athletes perceive recreational drugs use as having “utilitarian value”.
"They are using them to cope with the problems of day-to-day living," he added.
Reasons for using performance enhancers
The competitive drive to win is sometimes so fierce that athletes indulge in performance enhancers to boost their efforts. They adopt a short cut to fame, even at the risk of their health and athletic careers.
Athletes face enormous pressure to excel and may be using drugs to relax, cope with stress and anxiety, or to enhance their confidence. Some may be sensation seekers.
Pandina stated, "This really says that we have to focus on the motivations for athletes' substance use and make them aware of the consequences that are likely to come of it.”
The study appears in the November issue of the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs.
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