U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

NCJRS Virtual Library

The Virtual Library houses over 235,000 criminal justice resources, including all known OJP works.
Click here to search the NCJRS Virtual Library

National Study of Substance Use Trends Among NCAA College Student-Athletes

NCJ Number
244513
Author(s)
Nicole M. Bracken
Date Published
2012
Length
34 pages
Annotation
This report provides summary information concerning substance use behaviors of men's and women's intercollegiate athletics programs at the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) member institutions for the years 2005 and 2009.
Abstract
This report updates NCAA policymakers with both current and historical information concerning levels of drug and alcohol use by student-athletes within college athletics. Also provided is an analysis of information regarding why student-athletes do or do not use specific substances, where they obtain illegal drugs, when they started to use drugs and attitudes regarding drug use and drug testing. This report consists of three sections: Section 1, Demographic Information and Methodology, provides a background for the study and its stated objectives. A description of the survey instrument is given, as well as an analysis of the number and relative proportion of respondents based on various demographic characteristics. Section 2, Historical Comparisons, presents summary tables showing the percentage of student-athletes use of substances in both the ergogenic and social drug use category by year. In addition to the yearly comparison, the tables in this section make it possible to see overall results and to make comparisons across divisions, sex and sport. Data are also exhibited by racial/ethnic background where applicable. Section 3, Substance Use Experiences and Opinions, presents summary tables showing data for all respondents for the questions posed in the survey. Tables show percentages of behavior pertaining to age of first time use, the frequency of use, the parameters of use, the main reasons for use or non-use, drug testing experiences and beliefs, among other issues addressed in the survey instrument.