Athletes and Substance Abuse

Michael Phelps. Darryl Strawberry. Andre Agassi. John Daly. Allen Iverson.

While all these athletes excelled at their given sports, there’s something else they have in common. They’ve all battled addiction to drugs or alcohol.

There are a number of reasons athletes may turn to using drugs or alcohol. Some substance abuse among athletes can begin innocently. Because of the physical demands of sports, an athlete is bound to deal with injuries. Pain medications can solve the immediate pain problem and allow the player to perform better or just keep playing despite injury. However, athletes can become reliant upon prescribed opiate medications after sustaining an injury and feeling the pressure to heal quickly.

Many athletes also feel a great deal of stress from the pressures placed upon them ---- pressure to perform, time pressures, financial pressures, and expectations of fans, coaches, fellow players, family, and friends. Stresses can lead to feelings of exhaustion and burnout, and some athletes turn to sedative-type chemicals like alcohol, benzodiazepines, and misuse of beta-blockers and diuretics to lessen these feelings.

The competitive nature of sports has also been shown to lead to substance abuse as athletes constantly push the envelope to gain an edge over competitors. Most athletes know that the best way to excel is through dedication, training, and strength. Others, however, may turn to stimulant drugs to improve performance (cocaine, Adderall, Ritalin), steroids for physical strength, etc.

Unfortunately, athletes often feel they have nowhere to turn for help with these matters. Many are fearful of confidentiality issues, feeling their struggles with substances might derail their careers if known publicly. And, the fact that there are myriad people who have a financial interest in an athlete’s success might conflict with his/her well-being. As a result, many athletes don’t readily get the psychological counseling they need to manage stress and career- related issues or seek out chronic pain management physicians/programs.

Athletes should be encouraged to get help building the skills needed to overcome their addictions and manage issues such as depression and anxiety. Treatment centers --- especially those that have a holistic approach --- provide an environment that creates trust, safety and fosters the recovery process. Finding the right program will help athletes focus on the spiritual, emotional, and personal growth needed to transform their lives and achieve long-term recovery.

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David Bohl is Executive Director of Kiva Recovery, the trusted resource in addiction treatment. Focusing on the individual and the strengths within each of us, Kiva’s treatment approach aims to replace addiction with solution-focused, growth-oriented strategies focusing on Lifelong Recovery through Holistic Health, Positive Character Building through Continuous Character Growth, and Life Satisfaction through Contentment. The Kiva Recovery treatment center is located in Vernon Hills. To learn more, please visit www.KivaRecovery.com.