Elite athletes and alcohol and other drugs
March 2024
When professional athletes test positive for drugs or use alcohol in risky ways, they aren’t like the rest of us. They risk a complex array of sanctions for a start. Drug use for performance enhancement comes with a two year ban and recreational use of illicit drugs, a three month suspension. And then there’s the media circus, partly because athletes are seen as role models in the community. Retired AFL player, Brandon Jack, recently published a great opinion piece on the issue.
The AFL recently released a statement on their Illicit Drugs Policy, which has been receiving some media attention. The policy is centred on a ‘commitment to player wellbeing and welfare’ and ‘aims to inform and rehabilitate players through education and intervention.’
Having a comprehensive, evidence based policy in place is an effective way to address alcohol and other drug problems in athletes, but given the complex nature of alcohol and other drugs in sporting and athletic contexts, this often isn’t an easy feat.
Alcohol and other drugs are generally used by elite athletes at lower rates than the general population, and like the rest of the community, most of those that do, use only occasionally.
A systematic review found that 23.4% of athletes had used cannabis in the past 12 months, which is slightly lower than non athletes of a similar age. Athletes tend to drink only in the non training season, but risky drinking is common in some elite sports during that period. Opioid medications are easily accessible to athletes in professional sports to manage injury pain. One study on the National Football League (NFL) found that 52% of athletes had used prescription opioids during their NFL career, and of those, 71% had used them for non pain purposes.
Why do athletes use alcohol and other drugs?
Like other people, athletes use alcohol and other drugs for a range of reasons. Social and recreational purposes, managing pain and injuries, alleviating stress, anxiety or depression, coping with pressure, improving sleep, boosting energy, enhancing sporting performance or coping with post retirement are among the most common reasons that athletes use alcohol and other drugs.
The context of the sporting environment also plays an important role in alcohol and other drug use among elite athletes. Being part of a sporting culture that normalises or permits alcohol and other drug use, overestimating use among peers, knowing other athletes who use drugs, having an opportunity to use drugs or being a full time athlete can increase the likelihood of alcohol and other drug use among athletes.
It has been well established that mental health problems are often associated with alcohol and other drug use and athletes are no exception. Research shows that athletes are vulnerable to a range of mental health problems similar to the general population. An Australian study found that 46.4% of elite athletes reported experiencing mental health problems, particularly depression, eating disorders, general psychological distress and social anxiety. Athletes dealing with injuries, performance failure, fatigue, retirement and high expectations may be more susceptible to developing mental health problems.
Barriers to accessing services and seeking help
Stigma is one of the most common barriers to athletes seeking help for both mental health concerns and alcohol and other drug use. In the face of expectations to be strong and tough, athletes may feel concerned that seeking help may make them appear weak and that their coaches and teammates may respond negatively, impacting their training and playing opportunities.
In a challenging environment where they must deal with fatigue and defeat, athletes may also struggle to distinguish between the normal experiences of being an athlete and mental health symptoms, leading them to sometimes believe that their problems aren’t serious enough to warrant help. Privacy and confidentiality concerns also pose a barrier to athletes accessing help.
How can alcohol and other drug use and mental health problems in athletes be addressed?
Support from coaches, sporting staff and team members is integral to addressing alcohol and other drug use and mental health concerns in athletes. The team culture plays an important role in alcohol and other drug use, mental health problems and help seeking among athletes. It’s important that athletes feel comfortable to discuss the problems that they may be facing without fear of judgement or repercussions.
One of the most effective ways to foster a positive sporting culture and mitigate the harms of alcohol and other drug use in athletes is by developing a comprehensive alcohol and other drug policy. But as we’ve discussed, alcohol and other drug use in athletes is complex, so getting a good policy in place can be tricky.
We recently worked with a major professional sporting organisation, assisting with the development of a new illicit drugs policy and it was a very fine balance between sanctions, health and welfare of players, reputational risk and various national and international rules and regulations. Not to mention the stigma and moral judgement that comes with illicit drug use.
So how did we do this? First, we reviewed the evidence to identify the best practice principles that should inform an illicit drugs policy in a professional sporting context. We found that an illicit drugs policy should take a harm reduction approach, focusing on prevention, education, treatment and support and prioritising confidentiality.
Then we undertook extensive consultations with current and past players, as well as other stakeholders, so that we could get a strong understanding of their perspectives. This is an important part of policy development, because an effective policy needs to align with the values, perspectives and beliefs of the people it affects.
We consolidated what we found from our evidence review and consultations to develop detailed policy recommendations, so that our client had everything they needed to develop an evidence based and effective illicit drugs policy.
How we can help
Our WorkEdge™ program helps teams implement best practice policies, treatment pathways and alcohol and illicit drugs management strategies that align with global standards.
Want to strengthen your approach to alcohol and other drugs? Get in touch at at workedge@360edge.com.au or on 1300 988 184 for a free and confidential discussion.
Are you interested building your skills in responding to alcohol and other drugs? Check out our diverse range of clinical practice workshops.
