It’s no secret that sports can be a beneficial part of an adolescent’s development. With over 8 million U.S. high school students participating in sports every year, the benefits of sports and exercise include improved physical, mental and emotional wellbeing.
Yet a startling statistic undermines some of these positive benefits. Recent research has shown that student athletes are at a higher risk for drug and alcohol abuse than non-athletes. And with more and more adolescents checking into drug rehab centers from Riverside to Raleigh, this uptrend of drug and alcohol abuse among athletes is becoming hard to ignore.
So what’s the link between student athletes and substance abuse? The issue is multi-faceted and involves a broad spectrum of diverse components. Here’s a concrete look at the link between substance abuse and student athletes.
