Synthetic Cannabinoid Use and Descriptive Norms among Collegiate Student-Athletes

Abstract

Synthetic cannabinoids have gained popularity over the past decade, especially among young adults, due to sharing similar psychoactive properties with Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). A limited number of studies have examined synthetic cannabinoid use among college students but none have examined use exclusively by collegiate student-athletes. The objective of this study was to examine synthetic cannabinoid use among collegiate student-athletes. In the spring of 2013, 3,276 freshmen and transfer collegiate student-athletes from 47 NCAA Division I, II, and III institutions participated in a web-based survey on substance use. Bivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the relationship between collegiate student-athlete characteristics, substance use, and descriptive norms with lifetime use of synthetic cannabinoids. Sixty-two individuals (1.9%) reported lifetime use of synthetic cannabinoids, and 3 (0.1%) reported past-30-day use. Males, current drinkers, and athletes who used hookah and marijuana in the past 30 days were more likely to use synthetic cannabinoids. Peer use of synthetic cannabinoids was estimated to be higher than actual use, and such overestimation was positively associated with personal use of synthetic cannabinoids. Our findings suggest that campaigns addressing normative beliefs should be implemented on college campuses to prevent synthetic cannabinoid use among college students and collegiate student-athletes.

Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement (2019)

“…Marijuana (inhaled and/or ingested) has replaced nicotine as the second most widely used drug among some elite adolescent and collegiate athletes; it is more likely to be used in places where it is legal, which are becoming increasingly common 437 439 478. Despite relatively low rates of use, synthetic cannabinoids479 and cocaine439 appear to be a growing problem among collegiate athletes, with uncertain year round trends for athletes worldwide.…”

Everyone Else Is Doing It: The Association Between Social Identity and Susceptibility to Peer Influence in NCAA Athletes

“…We conceptualize risky behavior as hazardous conduct – either on or off the sporting field – that jeopardizes the physical or social health of an athlete or fellow team members. Some of the risky behaviors in which student-athletes are at heightened risk of engaging include driving under the influence of alcohol (e.g., Nelson & Wechsler, 2001), recreational drug use (e.g., Egan, Erausquin, Milroy, & Wyrick, 2016), performance enhancing drug use (Buckman, Farris, & Yusko, 2013), and concealing concussion-symptoms to remain in play (Chinn & Porter, 2016; Kroshus, Kubzansky, Goldman, & Austin, 2015). Given that risky behavior often takes place within the team environment, it is prudent to consider how social processes may impact decisions to engage in risky behavior.…”

Power of the Peer and Parent: Gender Differences, Norms, and Nonmedical Prescription Opioid Use Among Adolescents in South Central Kentucky

“…Descriptive norms is a type of norm included in Social Norms Theory (Perkins & Berkowitz, 1986) that refers to individuals' perceptions of the prevalence of a specific behavior among others (e.g., peer use of prescription opioids). Studies have found that individuals tend to overestimate the use of substances by others and overestimation is related to personal use (Aas & Klepp, 1992;Campo et al, 2003;Egan, Erausquin, Milroy, & Wyrick, 2016;Kilmer, Geisner, Gasser, & Lindgren, 2015;Larimer et al, 2011;Martens et al, 2006;McCabe, 2008;Vidourek, King, & Burbage, 2014).…”