Orange County, CA Substance Addiction Treatment for Athletes

The intense pressure and expectations athletes face can become overwhelming. They may use legal or illicit drugs to:

Improve athletic performance – Performance-enhancing drugs like anabolic steroids, human growth hormone, and ephedrine can give athletes an edge over the competition. Using these drugs is called doping, and it’s a widespread problem in the sports world, from professional cycling to bodybuilding.

Cope with stress and pressure – Intense physical and mental stress on and off the field can lead to anxiety, sleep problems, and burnout. Athletes may take drugs or alcohol to relax or get to sleep. But relying on drugs or alcohol to cope with stress can lead to addiction and dependence.

Deal with mental illness – While professional athletes routinely receive treatment for physical injuries, stigma around mental health issues makes some athletes reluctant to ask for help. They may turn to drugs or alcohol to treat their symptoms instead.

Manage physical pain – Athletes who suffer physical injuries may use drugs to treat their pain, whether prescribed or illicit. Opioid drugs, especially, come with a high risk of addiction. Even athletes who start out by taking these medications as prescribed can become addicted or physically dependent with time.

Deal with peer pressure – The sports world is known for its party culture, especially at the college level. Student athletes are more likely than other students to binge drink, and one in five reports drinking 10 or more drinks in a single outing when they do decide to drink. This puts them at serious risk of alcohol poisoning and addiction.

Pro athletes are also susceptible to peer pressure. One survey found that steroid use is still a serious problem among competitive bodybuilders and weightlifters, with 33% reporting dependence on the drugs.

Cope with retirement – The average pro athlete retires before they even reach age 30. The dramatic life change that comes with retirement—especially sudden retirement due to an injury—can be difficult for athletes. They may not have much to fall back on, and they might miss the routine of training and the thrill of competition. Some will turn to drugs or alcohol to cope with feelings of loss and uncertainty.

Athletes may use a variety of legal and illegal drugs—for performance enhancement, for stress relief, and even for bonding with peers. Here are some of the most common drugs used by athletes:

• Performance-enhancing drugs – Anabolic steroid abuse is still a major problem in sports, especially bodybuilding and weightlifting. Some athletes use them in high doses to increase muscle size and boost energy. Diuretics (for weight control) and human growth hormone (to increase muscle mass and boost performance) are also commonly abused. These drugs put athletes at serious risk of health problems, from blood clots to heart attack to hormone imbalances.
• Stimulants – Athletes may use amphetamines, such as ephedrine, and methamphetamine to enhance alertness, boost performance, and improve self-confidence. Some athletes use stimulants to lose weight, since these drugs tend to suppress appetite.
• Painkillers – Prescription opioids like Vicodin and OxyContin can help football players and other athletes manage pain from acute and chronic injuries. But these drugs come with a serious risk of addiction. Even people who take opioid painkillers as prescribed can develop a tolerance, which means they need more of the drug to get the same effect. Over time, this can lead to physical and psychological dependence.
• Alcohol and Other Drugs – Drinking is ubiquitous in the sports world, whether it’s baseball, football, basketball, or hockey. It’s not uncommon for athletes to drink before a game to reduce anxiety. But this can have the reverse effect of actually increasing the person’s anxiety and hindering their performance. Sports culture also encourages binge drinking, which is not only dangerous but can lead to addiction. Cocaine abuse is also common among athletes, as is marijuana use.