African American Female Basketball Players: An Examination of Alcohol and Drug Behaviors

Abstract

The use of drugs and alcohol by National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I African American female basketball players and their reasons for using these substances were examined. The investigation is part of a broader study investigating the use of alcohol, weight-loss products, tobacco, amphetamines, and anabolic steroids by female college athletes. Of the 50 athletes in this study, 72% reported having consumed alcoholic beverages, and 46% had engaged in binge drinking. Only 8% reported using either weight-loss or tobacco products, and there were no reports of using amphetamines or anabolic steroids. Usage patterns indicated that the athletes in the study were aware of the short-term negative effects of alcohol and tobacco; those respondents who did use these products greatly reduced their consumption during the competitive season. Factors found to influence use include social and peer influences and coaches' rules.

A systematic review of college student-athlete drinking: Prevalence rates, sport-related factors, and interventions

“…Results, however, indicated that sport-related coping motives accounted for unique variance in only alcohol-related problems-not consumption itself. In addition, results from a large-scale study on NCAA athletes revealed that only 0.6% of the sample reported using alcohol to deal with the stress of athletics (Green, Uryasz, Petr, & Bray, 2001), and other studies have shown low endorsement rates of copingrelated drinking motives (Bower & Martin, 1999;Evans, Weinberg, & Jackson, 1992). A recent study also showed no significant difference in reports of bdrinking to relax Q between college athletes and nonathletes (Wilson et al, 2004).…”

“…Five studies (Bower & Martin, 1999;Martin, 1998;NCAA, 2001;Selby, Weinstein, & Bird, 1990;Thombs, 2000) examined the relationship between seasonal status (in or out of one's competitive season) and alcohol consumption among intercollegiate athletes. All of these studies indicated that alcohol consumption was lower during the athletes' competitive seasons.…”

Heavy Drinking in College Students: Who Is at Risk and What Is Being Done About It?

“…With such a wide range of suggested motives and beliefs, it is difficult to determine the underlying reasons for heavy drinking in this population. Studies have identified social purposes (drinking to feel good, peer influence, drinking to deal with the stress of school and athletics, and drinking to have fun) as primary reasons for alcohol use (Bower & Martin, 1999;Green et al, 2001;Martin, 1998). Also, it is important to identify the reasons athletes choose not to use alcohol.…”

“…Despite these high rates of negative consequences associated with student athlete drinking, drinking rates have remained high over the past decade, with only slight decreases in overall alcohol consumption (NCAA, 2001). Interestingly, studies have shown drinking decreases among athletes during their competitive sport season (Bower & Martin, 1999;Martin, 1998; NCAA;Selby et al, 1990;Shields, 1998). It is also important to note that few differences have been observed in sport affiliation; variations in men's alcohol consumption range from 68.8% of track and field athletes (low) to 95.6% of ice hockey athletes (high).…”

When Is Sport Participation Risky or Protective for Alcohol Use? The Role of Teammates, Friendships, and Popularity

“…Second, other processes may be more episodic and require a different type of longitudinal data collection. For example, stressful games and being in-season versus off-season are related to athletes' alcohol use (Brown & Martin, 1999). Experience Sampling Methods (Larson & Richards, 1991) or daily diaries may be necessary to disentangle episodic behaviors that vary daily, or by particular events, such as games or seasons.…”