Experiences and attitudes of collegiate athletic trainers regarding alcohol-related unintentional injury in athletes

Comparison of Pregaming Alcohol Use and Consequences by Season Status and Sex in College Student Athletes

As student athletes exhibit unique alcohol use patterns based on being in- versus out-of-season and biological sex, we aimed to explore student athlete (N = 442) alcohol use, pregaming behaviors, and associated negative outcomes. Results suggest being out-of-season and male are positively associated with negative alcohol-related consequences, and male athletes report greater numbers of pregame specific alcohol-related consequences than female athletes (p < .05). Female athletes indicated significantly higher estimated blood alcohol concentrations than male athletes on pregaming nights. No differences emerged between in- and out-of-season athletes on pregame consequences. Results suggest that further emphasis on the role season status and sex has on pregaming behaviors and experiencing negative outcomes may be an important next step toward enhancing prevention and intervention approaches.

Risks associated with alcohol and marijuana use among college student athletes: The case for involving athletic personnel in prevention and intervention

The purpose of this study was to describe alcohol and marijuana use patterns and related consequences among student athletes. A total of 12,510 students (n=1,233 athletes) completed four cross-sectional online annual surveys as part of a multi-site campus initiative. Chi-square tests of independence, t-tests, and regression models evaluated differences in alcohol and marijuana use between athletes and non-athletes. The prevalence of binge drinking and high intensity drinking was significantly higher among student athletes than non-athletes, even after controlling for demographic characteristics. Thirteen percent of student athletes experienced an alcohol-related injury during the past year; this was more common among binge drinkers than non-binge drinkers (20.5% and 2.6%, respectively). Among student athletes, past-month binge drinking and past-year marijuana use were significantly associated with lowered GPA (ps<.01). Skipping class was twice as prevalent among student athletes who used marijuana as compared with athletes who did not use marijuana, but no differences were found related to binge drinking. Components for a training for athletic personnel to reduce risks for alcohol-related injury and academic consequences that are associated with alcohol and marijuana use among student athletes are described. Involving athletic personnel might be an important strategy to identify and intervene with high-risk student athletes.

Exploring the Athletic Trainer's Role in Assisting Student-Athletes Presenting With Alcohol-Related Unintentional Injuries

Compared with their nonathlete peers, collegiate athletes consume higher quantities of alcohol, drink with greater frequency, and exhibit an increased propensity to engage in heavy episodic drinking (ie, binge drinking), which often may result in alcohol-related consequences. Moreover, collegiate athletes are also more likely to engage in other maladaptive lifestyle behaviors, such as participating in physical fights and riding with an intoxicated driver, and less likely to engage in protective behaviors, such as wearing a helmet while operating a motorcycle, moped, or bicycle. Taken together, these behaviors clearly pose a health risk for student-athletes and increase the likelihood that they will experience an alcohol-related unintentional injury (ARUI). An ARUI represents a risk not only to the health and well-being of collegiate athletes but also to their athletic performances, collegiate careers, and potential professional opportunities. Therefore, athletic trainers need to be equipped with the knowledge and skills to provide face-to-face brief interventions to student-athletes presenting with ARUIs and to evaluate the effect of their involvement. We address potential action items for implementation by athletic trainers.