Information for Student Athletes
What Does the NCAA Say About Alcohol?
Alcohol's Impact on Physical Performance
CHAMPS
Links
Many students and fans would think that student athletes would be immune to high risk drinking since athletes are concerned about performance and alcohol interferes with all performance, especially athletic performance. However, several studies indicate that this perception is not true.
According to J. S. Leichliter, P. W. Meilman, et al in "Alcohol Use and Related Consequences among Students with Varying Levels of Involvement in College Athletics" (Journal of American College Health, 46, 257-267, 1998.) national survey data indicates that student athletes are at high risk for alcohol abuse: "In comparisons with non-athletes, both male and female athletes consumed significantly more alcohol per week, engaged in binge drinking more often, and suffered more adverse consequences from their substance use. No support was found for the hypothesis that athletic leaders were more responsible than other team participants in using alcohol. Male team leaders appeared to be at significantly greater risk than female team leaders; they also consumed more alcohol, binged more often, and suffered more consequences than other team members."
Another national survey, The College Alcohol Survey, conducted by Harvard's Henry Wechsler, Ph.D., had the same results: "athletes have a higher rate of binge drinking, heavier alcohol use and experience a greater number of alcohol-related harms compared to their non-athlete peers, despite having more exposure to alcohol education programs.
What Does the NCAA Say About Alcohol?
The National Collegiate Athlete Association (NCAA) supports universities establishing their own alcohol and other drug policies. In turn most university athletic departments, have a general policy, which applies to all student athletes, but allow coaches to have more strict policies.
The NCAA has clear expectations about drug use and regulations about drug testing. Most student athletes know that there is a list of substances that are banned but they may not know that some of the commonly used drugs, such as ephedra, are banned.
CHAMPS
The NCAA supports an athlete development program called CHAMPS. If you are interested in the Vanderbilt program, contact Alison Bush
Links
Note that Vanderbilt does not endorse any other website, nor guarantee the link to the site is active.
College Stats
For more information:
Office of Alcohol, Tobacco & Other Drug Prevention
Station B 1508
Nashville TN 37235
(615) 343-4740
FAX (615) 343-3702
