Sports, Drugs, & Other Societal Reflections
By Steven Ungerleider, Ph.D.
The Prevention Researcher,
Volume 3, Number 2, 1996, Pages 10-11
Feature Article:
All three of the previous papers [The Prevention Researcher, Volume 3, Number 2, 1996] articulate a serious problem in society today. Dr. Heyman discusses the role of sensation seeking and its relationship to substance use among our young athletes today. The research team of Carr, Kennedy and Dimick look at gender issues based on their survey data of alcohol use among male and female athletes as well as non-athletes. They briefly discuss the problem of the "male macho" image as it relates to promoting and enabling alcohol use in athletics. Finally, Dr. Tricker sets forth a framework of preventive interventions in the athletic environment. In evaluating the "public health" model as it relates to preventing substance use, Tricker notes quite elegantly:
"We need to improve the coping skills among our young athletes.....helping men and women to develop a balanced perception of the demands placed upon them as student athletes. And we need to provide a healthy environment for young athletes which involves a social atmosphere that discourages drug use, while encouraging improved interpersonal relationships."
These are important concepts that I feel need further discussion. One of the more serious issues that clinicians report in the academic literature is the notion that athletes are "put on a pedestal" at an early age. From the time that it is perceived that a young man or woman can shoot a basketball, run fast around a school yard, hit a top spin tennis shot, or leap over a bar, they are labeled as talented and gifted, and seen as an upcoming superstar "jock."
This expectation may increase the temporary self-esteem of a young person (especially one who might be struggling in the classroom) but long-term, it provides for an enabling environment. This environment lends itself to enabling or supportive behavior that gives a young person a false sense of security and a lack of identity about "who" they really are as opposed to "what" they can achieve on the playing field. This sense of misguided identity lends itself to alcohol and other substance use among our young athletes. Our society is very advanced when it comes to promoting our young athletes as stars, it makes all of us feel good, but what does it do for the self-image of young athletes? How do they really feel about themselves?
Putting a young athlete on a pedestal is dangerous for a number of reasons. One, it may allow them a false sense of security and hope. Two, it doesn't allow teachers, parents, administrators, and other caregivers a chance to offer honest and open feedback about their behavior. Three, it sends a message to the athlete that they are so important on the playing field that what they do elsewhere is secondary. Four, it suggests to our young men and women that they may live by a different set of rules, a separate standard of conduct and ethics, and that we do honor a double standard. In fact, putting a young athlete on the pedestal sends horrendous messages that get reinforced and multiplied by teachers, parents, law enforcement, and siblings as years go on. No doubt, this behavior sends confusing, often double messages to our youth about alcohol and other drug use.
The "double standard" of conduct is an issue that emerges at every level of sport. We begin to see it happen with middle school kids and young athletes who appear to have natural ability and talent. Often coaches will single out a youngster and offer special treatment in the classroom because they are exceptional on the playing field. In high school, this gets played out to greater extremes; after all, this is where the "winning is everything" mentality begins. Coaches are looking for their best athletes in high school because often the exceptional athlete (or athletic team) will define the identity and image of a high school, creating a certain mystique about the school state-wide. Rarely do you hear about a high school that is defined by its "world class" music program, its chess champion, or its debating team!
"We need to improve the coping skills among our young athletes.....helping men and women to develop a balanced perception of the demands placed upon them as student athletes. And we need to provide a healthy environment for young athletes which involves a social atmosphere that discourages drug use, while encouraging improved interpersonal relationships."
These are important concepts that I feel need further discussion. One of the more serious issues that clinicians report in the academic literature is the notion that athletes are "put on a pedestal" at an early age. From the time that it is perceived that a young man or woman can shoot a basketball, run fast around a school yard, hit a top spin tennis shot, or leap over a bar, they are labeled as talented and gifted, and seen as an upcoming superstar "jock."
This expectation may increase the temporary self-esteem of a young person (especially one who might be struggling in the classroom) but long-term, it provides for an enabling environment. This environment lends itself to enabling or supportive behavior that gives a young person a false sense of security and a lack of identity about "who" they really are as opposed to "what" they can achieve on the playing field. This sense of misguided identity lends itself to alcohol and other substance use among our young athletes. Our society is very advanced when it comes to promoting our young athletes as stars, it makes all of us feel good, but what does it do for the self-image of young athletes? How do they really feel about themselves?
Putting a young athlete on a pedestal is dangerous for a number of reasons. One, it may allow them a false sense of security and hope. Two, it doesn't allow teachers, parents, administrators, and other caregivers a chance to offer honest and open feedback about their behavior. Three, it sends a message to the athlete that they are so important on the playing field that what they do elsewhere is secondary. Four, it suggests to our young men and women that they may live by a different set of rules, a separate standard of conduct and ethics, and that we do honor a double standard. In fact, putting a young athlete on the pedestal sends horrendous messages that get reinforced and multiplied by teachers, parents, law enforcement, and siblings as years go on. No doubt, this behavior sends confusing, often double messages to our youth about alcohol and other drug use.
The "double standard" of conduct is an issue that emerges at every level of sport. We begin to see it happen with middle school kids and young athletes who appear to have natural ability and talent. Often coaches will single out a youngster and offer special treatment in the classroom because they are exceptional on the playing field. In high school, this gets played out to greater extremes; after all, this is where the "winning is everything" mentality begins. Coaches are looking for their best athletes in high school because often the exceptional athlete (or athletic team) will define the identity and image of a high school, creating a certain mystique about the school state-wide. Rarely do you hear about a high school that is defined by its "world class" music program, its chess champion, or its debating team!
In college, the mystique gets greater, the prestige larger, and the money attached to winners and winning, a serious contender. With college athletics, those athletes who reside on the pedestal and operate in the world of "double standards of conduct" are seen as bigger than life. These young men and women can affect the character and prestige of an academic institution. Along with this lack of identity, absence of healthy coping mechanisms and inability to develop effective decision making skills, a young athlete is at risk for using alcohol and other drugs.
When we began planning this issue, I consulted a number of colleagues who have expertise in the field of sports psychology and sports medicine. Two giants in the field are individuals whom I consult on a regular basis for guidance and advice relating to athletes and at-risk situations.
Dr. Robert Voy was the chief medical officer for the United States Olympic Committee (1984-1989). He is now in private practice in Nevada and continues to work with athletes and their families around substance use and high-risk behaviors. As a physician, he has worked within the entire spectrum of athletics: From youth sports to gold medalists in the Olympic Games. He has seen athletes severely disabled because of their drug use, both due to recreational and performance enhancement drugs. As an expert in the field, Dr. Voy suggests that society take a good hard look at the enabling behaviors that support athletes' "special treatment" from the early stages in their career.
He also suggests that prevention specialists carefully evaluate the training models and motivations of those who provide support services to athletes. One example that comes to mind is the tragic case of the Canadian 100 meter sprinter Ben Johnson who set a world record and won the gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Within 24 hours of that achievement he was stripped of the medal and his title for testing positive for anabolic steroids. In the aftermath of the Canadian government's investigation of this event, a number of doctors, trainers, pharmacologists, agents, and coaches were questioned and some were implicated through their involvement, support, and training techniques of Mr. Johnson.
Professor Bruce Ogilvie, formerly of San Jose State University and presently affiliated with Stanford University Medical School, has been considered by some to be the "father of sport psychology." As a clinical researcher, Dr. Ogilvie has also observed the entire spectrum of athletes at risk. Whether consulting with the NBA Portland Trailblazers or a local Pee Wee football league in northern California, Ogilvie has noted similarities in how we approach the "values and ethics" of sport. He has noted on many occasions that "enabling" behaviors that support anti-social conduct, including substance use, may have origins from different sources. These sources might include a trainer or team doctor who has received orders from team management that an athlete must be ready to play under any circumstances. This includes being hurt, emotionally disabled, or physically incapacitated. After all, doctors are always available to provide the magic pill for whatever the ailment.
Ogilvie notes that this phenomenon occurs at the community level with youth sports programs as well. Fathers wanting to assist their youngsters with being a "bit stronger and more fit" will go shopping for the right physician. This medical doctor might (with some persuasion) prescribe an anabolic steroid to supplement the conditioning work and recovery time of this "growing" athlete. In some parts of the country, this has been a common practice until recently when the FDA re-evaluated various controlled substances including anabolic steroids.
Both Voy and Ogilvie are quick to note that no one individual is typically to blame for the enabling behaviors and those factors that contribute to athletes' substance use. It is, however, a collective responsibility to be shared among all of us who support the notion of a "winning at all costs" mentality. Within the public health model of agent, host, and environment, it is the interaction of all three parts that will lead to healthier coping behaviors and enhanced peer resistance skills. All three parts will assist in strengthening positive decision making efforts and lead to a healthier community at large.
Steven Ungerleider, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist, director of Integrated Research Services, and Editor of The Prevention Researcher. He is the author of three books, including Beyond Strength: Psychological Profiles of Olympic Athletes with co-author Jacqueline Golding of the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Ungerleider has published articles in both the prevention and sports psychology domains.
Copyright 1996, Integrated Research Services, Inc.
When we began planning this issue, I consulted a number of colleagues who have expertise in the field of sports psychology and sports medicine. Two giants in the field are individuals whom I consult on a regular basis for guidance and advice relating to athletes and at-risk situations.
Dr. Robert Voy was the chief medical officer for the United States Olympic Committee (1984-1989). He is now in private practice in Nevada and continues to work with athletes and their families around substance use and high-risk behaviors. As a physician, he has worked within the entire spectrum of athletics: From youth sports to gold medalists in the Olympic Games. He has seen athletes severely disabled because of their drug use, both due to recreational and performance enhancement drugs. As an expert in the field, Dr. Voy suggests that society take a good hard look at the enabling behaviors that support athletes' "special treatment" from the early stages in their career.
He also suggests that prevention specialists carefully evaluate the training models and motivations of those who provide support services to athletes. One example that comes to mind is the tragic case of the Canadian 100 meter sprinter Ben Johnson who set a world record and won the gold medal at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. Within 24 hours of that achievement he was stripped of the medal and his title for testing positive for anabolic steroids. In the aftermath of the Canadian government's investigation of this event, a number of doctors, trainers, pharmacologists, agents, and coaches were questioned and some were implicated through their involvement, support, and training techniques of Mr. Johnson.
Professor Bruce Ogilvie, formerly of San Jose State University and presently affiliated with Stanford University Medical School, has been considered by some to be the "father of sport psychology." As a clinical researcher, Dr. Ogilvie has also observed the entire spectrum of athletes at risk. Whether consulting with the NBA Portland Trailblazers or a local Pee Wee football league in northern California, Ogilvie has noted similarities in how we approach the "values and ethics" of sport. He has noted on many occasions that "enabling" behaviors that support anti-social conduct, including substance use, may have origins from different sources. These sources might include a trainer or team doctor who has received orders from team management that an athlete must be ready to play under any circumstances. This includes being hurt, emotionally disabled, or physically incapacitated. After all, doctors are always available to provide the magic pill for whatever the ailment.
Ogilvie notes that this phenomenon occurs at the community level with youth sports programs as well. Fathers wanting to assist their youngsters with being a "bit stronger and more fit" will go shopping for the right physician. This medical doctor might (with some persuasion) prescribe an anabolic steroid to supplement the conditioning work and recovery time of this "growing" athlete. In some parts of the country, this has been a common practice until recently when the FDA re-evaluated various controlled substances including anabolic steroids.
Both Voy and Ogilvie are quick to note that no one individual is typically to blame for the enabling behaviors and those factors that contribute to athletes' substance use. It is, however, a collective responsibility to be shared among all of us who support the notion of a "winning at all costs" mentality. Within the public health model of agent, host, and environment, it is the interaction of all three parts that will lead to healthier coping behaviors and enhanced peer resistance skills. All three parts will assist in strengthening positive decision making efforts and lead to a healthier community at large.
Steven Ungerleider, Ph.D., is a licensed psychologist, director of Integrated Research Services, and Editor of The Prevention Researcher. He is the author of three books, including Beyond Strength: Psychological Profiles of Olympic Athletes with co-author Jacqueline Golding of the University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Ungerleider has published articles in both the prevention and sports psychology domains.
Copyright 1996, Integrated Research Services, Inc.
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This article can be found in the issue:
Athlete Alcohol and Drug Use
The Prevention Researcher,
Volume 3, Number 2, 1996
Society has held numerous myths concerning the drinking and drug-related habits of athletes. Assuming that athletes tend to avoid alcohol and other drugs because they are in training or don't have the time to become involved are two such myths. In this issue of The Prevention Researcher several noted professionals in the field of athlete alcohol and drug use examine the problem.
This issue also featured these articles:
- • Alcohol Use Among High School Athletes, Pages 1-3
- • Preventing Substance Use in Young Athletes, Pages 6-9
- • Psychological Factors in Athletes' Substance Use, Pages 3-5
- • Sports, Drugs, & Other Societal Reflections, Pages 10-11
Order this print issue for only $10.00!