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Heroin Addiction and Related Clinical Problems: 2016, 18, N4 (pages: 5 - 12)

Illicit Drugs and Others Substances Used by Young Athletes between Ages of 10 and 25

Gabrovec B.

Summary: Background and aim: The purpose of this study was to establish the details about how illicit and other substances are abused among young recreational athletes according to the type of sport, training frequency, and other parameters. This study examined young, active athletes from Slovenia between the ages of 10 and 25 that were actively engaged in any kind of sport at least twice per week. Methods: The survey involved a total of 1,780 participants; of these, 1,095 (61.51%). responded by providing appropriately filled out questionnaire forms. These respondents included 575 (52.5%) men and 520 (47.5%) women. Results: 31.5% of our respondents had tried smoking or actually smoked cigarettes at least once in their life, whereas as few as 4.6% reported smoking on a daily basis. Most of the respondents reported having tried alcohol (67.5%); of these, 21.5% had tried alcohol in the previous month. 19.9% of the respondents had tried smoking cannabis, but 9.1% specified that this was a one-time event. 13.6% had tried stimulants, but 5.9% added that this was a one-time event. At much lower frequencies, the respondents had tried heroin (3.1%), cocaine (4.5%), and amphetamines, LSD, new synthetic drugs (3.6%). According to the evidence provided by this study, active young athletes consume some substances less often than the general population and, in any case, they first try the substances mentioned above at a higher average age. Research shows that athletes who train more often (4 times per week or more) are less prone to trying or consuming a variety of substances. Conclusion: Our study shows that young athletes who are actively engaged in sports activities use a variety of types of substance, but do so less frequently than the general population. In cases where athletes have already been exposed to various substances, their average age at their first encounter with drugs is higher than that recorded for the general population.