Managing Substance-Related and Addictive Disorders in Athletes

Burger, James W. MD
Goncalves, Richard MD
Stull, Todd MD

From the Division of Neuropsychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa (JWB); HIV Mental Health Research Unit, Neuroscience Institute, University of Cape Town, South Africa (JWB); Sports Science Institute of South Africa, Cape Town, South Africa (JWB, RG); Division of Addiction Psychiatry, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, University of Cape Town, South Africa (RG); and the Department of Psychiatry, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska (TS).

Disclosure: The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.

Address correspondence to James W. Burger, MD, Department of Psychiatry and Mental Health, Neuroscience Institute, Groote Schuur Hospital, Anzio Road, Observatory, Cape Town, South Africa, 7395; email: [email protected].

Psychiatric Annals 54(11):p e301-e307, November 01, 2024. | DOI: 10.3928/00485713-20241121-01

Substance use and addiction are growing and evolving problems in the general population, with athletes being no exception. Athletes may use substances for experimentation, social acceptance, altering mood, or to enhance performance. Athletes who use substances are at risk of poor athletic performance and of being prohibited from competition. General psychiatrists should be able to understand and treat substance use and addictive disorders in athletes as part of a collaborative multidisciplinary team. In this article, the most common substance and behavioral addictions for athletes are reviewed, as well as their management principles in this population. [Psychiatr Ann. 2024;54(11):e301–e307.]