Do varsity college athletes have a greater likelihood of risky alcohol and cannabis use than non-athletes? Results from a National Survey in Brazil

Abstract

Objective: We examined the prevalence of risky alcohol and cannabis use among Brazilian varsity college athletes and whether this group had a greater likelihood of risky use than non-athletes. Methods: In 2009, Brazilian college students (n=12,711) were recruited for a national stratified random survey. Their sociodemographic characteristics, mental health, substance use, and participation in varsity sports were assessed. Binary logistic regression models were used to examine the association between varsity athlete status and moderate to high-risk alcohol and cannabis use. Results: Among varsity athletes, 67.6 and 10.7% reported risky alcohol and cannabis use, respectively. Varsity athletes had greater odds of risky alcohol consumption than non-athletes (aOR = 2.02, 95%CI 1.08-3.78). Varsity athletes also had greater odds of risky cannabis use than non-athletes in unadjusted analyses (OR = 2.57, 95%CI 1.05-6.28), although this relationship was attenuated after covariate adjustment. Conclusions: Among college students in Brazil, varsity athletes had a higher prevalence of risky alcohol and cannabis use than non-athletes. The rates were considerably higher than those observed among samples of U.S. college athletes. Future research should examine the use of these substances among varsity college athletes in other middle-income countries since these findings will likely guide prevention and treatment efforts.

Cannabis Use in Adolescent and Young Adult Athletes: A Clinical Review

“…72 Similar contradictions in the interaction between cannabis use and athletic participation exist in studies involving college athletes. Two studies, 1 in Brazil and 1 in Canada, found cannabis consumption to be significantly greater in those participating in varsity athletics than in nonathlete college students, 47,49 while 3 studies reported sport participation to reduce cannabis use compared with their peers who were not involved in athletics. 7,54,62 In a survey of >23,000 NCAA athletes, the most commonly reported reason for using cannabis was for socialization, whereas the second most common was for pain management.…”