The studies considered cover the years 1990–2020 and indicate a growing interest in doping prevention and young target groups. This trend is particularly evident in the last five years (53% of the studies were published between 2016 and 2020). The studies were mainly conducted in western societies (53% Europe, 37% USA) and span a performance spectrum from international elite athletes (Hurst et al., 2020) to students with no specific sport backgrounds (e.g., Mallia et al., 2020). The main target groups are athletes from different performance levels (63% of the studies). Nevertheless, there is a trend toward addressing more non-athletic target groups, such as students (33%).

  • These effects include many severe cardiovascular reactions, such as hypertension, reduced blood pressure, pulmonary embolism, stroke, enlargement of the heart, and heart attack.
  • Although anxiety disorders are highly treatable, they may tempt athletes to self-medicate with depressants such as alcohol or benzodiazepines like Xanax®.
  • In terms of comparisons, studies were considered eligible when contrasting participants with and without a prevention measure or comparing different variants of a measure.
  • There has been a steady decline in the number of detections in the 7 years of the IDP in the face of a substantial increase in the number of tests conducted, targeting of players and targeting of high-risk periods.
  • Alcohol, nicotine, cannabis, stimulants and prescription opioids are the most commonly used substances among elite athletes but overall consumption is lower in professional sports than in the general public [2].
  • In-competition tests were conducted at the playing venue with the drug test personnel notifying the players and collecting the specimens after the game according to WADA protocols.

Typically, this treatment involves six 40 min infusions over the course of 2–3 weeks. Currently, there are limited data to support the potential benefits in alcohol, cocaine and opioid use disorders. One study related to marijuana found a decrease in cannabis use frequency [103,107]. Despite the limited nature of this literature, the data presented so far may be a promising avenue to explore in a population in need of better treatment options.

What Are the Different Types of Performance Enhancing Drugs?

When an athlete builds up a tolerance to a medication, they start to need more and more of the substance to receive the same level of pain-relief effects. Tolerance escalates to dependence with repeated use of the drug, which causes neurons in the brain to adapt to the presence of the drug and makes it impossible to function normally without the substance. Finally, Ms. de Alencar welcomed the support provided by UNODC, making the link between this sports-based programme and the crime prevention programme 
Viva Brasilia.

how to prevent drug use in sports

Those who come forward with inside information need to know they will be taken seriously and protected. This requires an independent body that protects their identity and makes sure evidence is taken seriously. There needs to be financial support to encourage whistleblowing, which can help inform more efficient and effective investigations. Recent failures to follow up on information, engage with people who try to help, and reduce personal risk, has shown this to be a major issue. While statistics for athlete-only drug use are difficult to come by, we do have some information about specific drug use with specific populations. It is important for athletes to only use these drugs under the supervision of a licensed practitioner and to only take them as directed.

Institutional Review Board Statement

An athlete’s passport purports to establish individual baseline hormone/blood levels, which are monitored over time for significant changes. A positive test result would consist of too dramatic a change from the established individual baseline. This approach is intended to protect athletes from false-positive tests resulting from naturally occurring high levels of endogenous substances, while catching those attempting to cheat by using naturally occurring substances. It is noticeable that programs for adolescent non-athletes were often placed in the educational context, like school. Here, adolescents around the age of 15 were the primary target group, and less frequently, programs targeted younger audiences, such as 10-year-olds (Laure et al., 2009) or 12–13-year-olds (Medina et al., 2019).

Noting that the UNODC programme focuses on vulnerable and at-risk youth, she saw it is an important contribution to the work being carried out to reduce crime rates in the city of Brasilia and the Federal District. “We https://ecosoberhouse.com/recovery-residence/ have to understand the youth capacity and bring them to sports culture, in order to prepare them for the future.” UNODC helped coordinate a group of 50 youngsters who discussed problems related to violence and drugs.

Office on Drugs and Crime

Many people wish they had what it takes to compete in sports, but not everyone is cut out for the challenge. If you or a loved one are an athlete, there are plenty of reasons to feel proud and continue doing what you love. Encourage your loved one to share their concerns with you and let them know you will always be there for them.

how to prevent drug use in sports

While PED use may seem like a good idea in the short term, it can have serious, lasting effects. In addition to the health concerns, most major sports have strict punishments for anyone being caught using any PED’s. This can include season or lifetime bans, loss of endorsements or contracts, and much more. Sports can equip drug use in sports individuals with the skills they need to cope with different life situations and avoid turning to drugs. However, the right sports should be used to equip individuals with the skills they need to overcome addiction and lead sober lives after searching “inpatient drug rehab near me” and undergoing treatment there.