Substance Use Among High School Athletes

SUMMARY

During the past two decades, prevention specialists have responded to concerns about youthful substance use by developing a variety of programs. The most effective of these programs have been based upon our understanding of the risk and protective factors involved. While student-athletes generally share the same level of risk as other high school students, as a group, they may have other characteristics that can be considered. In addition, the special socializing experience of participating in athletics may present special opportunities for prevention. We suggest that it is prudent to build upon important lessons in designing programs for student athletes and we provide, as a starting point, an overview of twelve key processes with demonstrated impact.     

Alcohol Use Among Older Adults

Alcohol use problems among older adults have been called the "invisible epidemic." As the population of older adults continues to grow, there is an increased need to reexamine alcohol use in this population. The authors provide an overview on alcohol use in the over-60 age group. The main areas of focus included research on the prevalence of drinking in that population, as well as comments on the best practices in assessment and psychological treatment. Several screening assessments have been recommended for use with older adults, such as the CAGE questionnaire, Michigan Alcohol Screening Test-Geriatric version, Alcohol-Related Problems Survey, and the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test. The authors note age-appropriate psychological treatment interventions that include brief interventions, family interventions, motivational counseling, and cognitive behavioral therapies. Barriers to assessment and treatment are also discussed.     

Alcohol‐Related Consequences Among Intercollegiate Student Athletes: The Role of Drinking Motives

This study examined drinking motives as predictors of alcohol‐related consequences among student athletes and nonathletes. Results indicated that the highest level of alcohol‐related consequences was reported by student athletes with high levels of both coping and conformity motives.     

Alcohol First Use and Attitudes Among Young Children

We describe the attitudes and first use of alcohol by children, grades 3-6, who participated in the Bogalusa Heart Study, 1993-94. Questionnaire data reflected that more than one-third of the children had experimented with alcohol at the time of the study. The dominant environmental factor in experimentation was family modeling, and the dominant personal factor was curiosity, regardless of race, gender, or grade. Most children believed that alcohol use can lead to accidents, that drinking has negative social consequences, and that alcohol use hurts only if done to excess. Indications are that young children generally have negative attitudes regarding alcohol use, and that public and family alcohol education efforts need to be more specific about deleterious effects of even low levels of alcohol use in the young.     

Strength of Religious Faith: A Comparison of Intercollegiate Athletes and Non-Athletes

This pilot study explored the strength of religious faith in a sample of intercollegiate athletes and non-athletes. Participants were 226 undergraduate students (57 athletes) at the University of Florida who were enrolled in undergraduate courses. Strength of religious beliefs were assessed with the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith—Short Form. Findings indicate that athletes reported higher levels of religious faith than non-athletes. Implications of these findings on future research and applied sport practice are discussed.     

Alcohol and Other Drug Use Among African-American Students in a Southern University

This analysis of the circumstances of alcohol and other drug use among African-American students at a predominantly White university indicated that the majority of these students drank in a responsible manner. Other drug use was almost nonexistent. Strong peer disapproval was exhibited toward drug users and alcohol abusers. Counselors dealing with such problems must be cognizant of the multicultural aspects of these behaviors.     

Use and Effectiveness of Coping with Stress in Sport Among Australian and Indonesian Athletes

The purpose of this study was to determine the most common coping strategies used by Australian and Indonesian competitive athletes and the effectiveness of those strategies following stressful events experienced prior to (pre-game) and during (game) sport competition. Analyses, using 2 × 7 (pre-game) and 2 × 9 (game) MANOVAs, supported the predictions of significant cultural differences on selected measures. In addition, more frequent use of a coping strategy was not necessarily associated with increased perceived effectiveness of that strategy. Australian and Indonesian athletes differed on the perceived effectiveness of these strategies as a function of the type of stressor, and the increased use of selected coping strategies is not necessarily concomitant with heightened effectiveness of using that strategy. Thus, the frequency and perceived effectiveness of using coping strategies appear to be independent.     

Religiosity, Alcohol Use, and Sex Behaviors Among College Student-Athletes

College student-athletes tend to consume more alcohol, engage in sex, and report more sex partners than nonathlete students. The current study examined the relationship between religiosity (e.g., influence of religious beliefs and church attendance) and alcohol use and sex behavior among college student-athletes. Most of the student-athletes (n = 83) were religious. Influence of religious beliefs was a significant predictor of less alcohol use and less sexual activity (i.e., oral and vaginal sex, number of sex partners). However, increased church attendance was not found to be a protective factor. Findings suggest that religious beliefs may contribute to reduction of alcohol use and sexual risk among college student-athletes. Consideration should be given to incorporating religiosity aspects in sexual and alcohol risk-reduction interventions for student-athletes.     

Religion,Alcohol Use and Risk Drinking Among Canadian Adults Living in Ontario

This research examines (1) the association between risk drinking and religious affiliation and (2) differences between religions for risk drinking among adults living in Ontario, Canada, for Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, other religious groups and the non-religious. Data are based on telephone interviews with 16,596 respondents and are derived from multiple cycles (2005–2011) of the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s (CAMH) Monitor survey, an ongoing cross-sectional survey of adults in Ontario, Canada, aged 18 years and older. Data were analysed using bivariate cross-tabulations, Mann–Whitney U nonparametric test and logistic regression. Alcohol use and risk drinking occur among members of all religious groups; however, the rate of drinking ranges widely. Risk drinking is significantly associated with religion. When compared to the No religion/Atheist group, several religious groups (Baptist, Christian, Hindu, Jehovah’s Witness, Jewish, Muslim/Islam, Non-denominational, Pentecostal, Sikh and Other religion) in our sample have significantly lower odds of risk drinking. Risk drinkers also attended significantly fewer services among several religions. Results suggest that there are differences in the risk drinking rates among Canadian adults, living in Ontario, by religion. It appears that religious traditions of prohibition and abstention do hold sway among Canadian adults for some religious groups.     

Alcohol and Drug Use, and Depression Among Hispanic Men in Early Adulthood

Community research and clinical practice have shown that alcohol and drug use and depression are interrelated. Among Hispanics, acculturation may play a role in these relationships. To investigate these relationships as well as alcohol-related problems, we interviewed 288 Puerto Rican, Dominican, and Colombian men in early adulthood. No significant differences emerged in the proportions of abstainers across the three groups. Colombians drank significantly more frequently and had more alcohol-related problems than Dominicans. Dominicans were at least risk for and least likely to have alcohol-related problems. Puerto Ricans were much more likely to use drugs than the other Hispanic men. Drug use was associated with an increased likelihood of heavy drinking which, in turn, increased the risk of drug use and depression. Acculturation decreased the risk of drug use. Results are discussed in terms of implications for community psychology research and interventions.     

Assessment of Alcohol Use Disorders Among Court‐Mandated DWI Offenders

Convicted DWI offenders (N = 549) were assessed for alcohol use disorders. Repeat offenders had twice the rate of both lifetime and current alcohol use disorders compared with 1st‐time offenders. Guidelines for determining alcohol problems in DWI offenders are recommended.     

Religion and Alcohol Use Among African-American and Hispanic Inner-City Emergency Care Patients

This study examines the impact of religious factors on alcohol consumption prior to seeking emergency care and on alcohol abuse in a random sample of inner-city Hispanic and African-American emergency care patients. A random sample of patients 18 years and older was drawn from a large inner-city hospital. Respondents who reported having consumed alcohol six hours prior to emergency admission were compared with other patients on a variety of demographic and religious indicators. Logistic regression models predicting consumption prior to admission and abstinence were estimated, along with Heckman's selection models of alcohol abuse. Religious participation has a significant negative impact on the odds of having alcohol six hours prior to seeking emergency care, and increases the odds of abstaining from alcohol. Religious coping styles, personal religiosity, and spirituality have no impact on indicators of alcohol consumption or abuse.     

Family Protection and Prevention of Alcohol Use Among Hispanic Youth at High Risk

Research regarding prevention strategies for Hispanic youth stress the importance of family interventions because of the particular importance of family as a protective factor within the Hispanic community. Starting in 1995, the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention conducted the National Cross-Site Evaluation of High Risk Youth Programs, a 5-year drug and alcohol prevention study with a sample of approximately 10,500 youth, including nearly 3,000 Hispanic youth. Youth were surveyed regarding their alcohol use patterns and risk and protective factors, with several measures of family relationships, including family connectedness, family supervision, and parental attitudes toward their child's alcohol use. Analyses indicate that family factors are highly linked to alcohol use among Hispanics, particularly among Hispanic females. Longitudinal growth curve analyses indicate that improving the connections that young Hispanic females have to their parents can have positive long-term effects on delaying or reducing their alcohol use. This evaluation was conducted under the direction of Dr. Soledad Sambrano, Ph.D. of the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention under contract #2777-95-5002 with EMT Associates, Inc. and ORC Macro. The views expressed herein represent the opinions and analyses of the individual authors and may not necessarily reflect the opinions, official policy, or position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration, or the Center for Substance Abuse Prevention.     

Alcohol Use,Problem Drinking and Health Risk Factors Among South African Youths

The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of problem drinking among South African youth (18–24 years). A cross-sectional population-based household survey was conducted using a multi-stage stratified cluster sampling approach. The total sample included 3123 participants (age range 18–24 years, 45.4% women) from four of nine provinces in South Africa. Results indicate that current alcohol was relatively more common among male (40.7%) than female youths (21.3%). Similarly, hazardous or harmful drinking was more prevalent among males (24.3%) than among women (12.9%). In multivariable analyses among men and women high on sexually permissiveness had hazardous or harmful alcohol use. Lifestyle including high peer pressure, and spending more nights away in a week were associated with hazardous or harmful alcohol use.     

Investigating Relationships Among Distress Tolerance,PTSD Symptom Severity,and Alcohol Use

Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment - Exposure to trauma (particularly interpersonal trauma), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and low distress tolerance (DT; the...     

Individual Differences as Predictors of Illicit Drug Use Among Turkish College Students

ABSTRACT

Although the prevalence of drug use in the young adult population in Turkey is still far below the figures reported for most European Union countries and the United States, there seems to be a noteworthy increase in drug use, especially among high school and college students. The purpose of the present study was to examine the extent of drug use among college students in Turkey and to identify some of the individual-difference variables associated with drug use. Participants were 781 college students. A survey package including (a) measures of sensation seeking–risk taking, self-esteem, affectivity level, global mental health, overall life satisfaction, and the rate and nature of substance use and (b) demographic questions was administered to the participants during regularly held class meetings. A logistic regression analysis revealed that sensation seeking?risk taking, parental education level, smoking, and frequency of alcohol use predicted illicit drug experience. Implications of the findings and limitations of the study are discussed using the context of the study as a framework.     

Complex Interaction of Religiousness with other Factors in Relation to Substance Use and Misuse Among Female Athletes

Strength of religious faith (SRF) is rarely studied as a protective factor against substance use and misuse in sports. Herein, we studied the potential buffering effect of the complex socio-educational, sports, and religiousness factors in the protection against substance use and misuse, including cigarettes, analgesics, appetite suppressants, potential doping behavior, and binge drinking. The sample of subjects included 40 high-class female athletes (22–26 years of age). Using a strictly anonymous questionnaire, we investigated different social, educational, and sports factors (including SRF measured by the Santa Clara Strength of Religious Faith Questionnaire) in relation to substance use and misuse. Following the calculation of simple correlations, multiple regression analysis revealed that in combination with low sports experience, SRF has a significant buffering effect against binge alcohol drinking and consumption of appetite suppressants. The data are discussed in comparison with previous findings and theoretical background. Future studies should study the topic while observing samples of recreational and competitive athletes of both genders.     

Binge Drinking Among College Athletes and Non-Athletes

Concerns about incidence, forms, and consequences of alcohol use among college students lack examinations of the lifestyles and predictors of college student athletes. This article, using a sample of student-athletes and non-athletes from four Southern universities, identifies the lifestyle predictors for each population, identifying patterns and sets of predictors of binge drinking behavior. Findings indicate that for both samples, binge drinking behavior is explained by sex, drinking in bars, number of male friends who drink, and cigarette smoking. Student-athletes' binge drinking is explained further by residing on campus. Non-athlete binge drinking is related to race and amount of study time per week. Implications for these findings are also discussed.     

Alcohol Use,Acculturative Stress,and Drinking Motivation Among International Community College Students

Alcohol use, acculturative stress, and drinking motivations of 262 students in English as a second language programs in a U.S. community college were explored. Alcohol consumption was generally low, but differences between two groups with different legal statuses indicate the need to consider subgroups of international students for research purposes. Se exploraron el uso de alcohol, el estrés por aculturación y las motivaciones para beber de 262 alumnos en programas de inglés como lengua extranjera en una universidad comunitaria estadounidense. El consumo de alcohol fue moderadamente bajo, pero las diferencias entre dos grupos con diferente estatus legal indican la necesidad de considerar subgrupos de estudiantes internacionales a la hora de realizar investigaciones.