Alcohol and Substance Misuse in Sport

Alcohol and other substances are misused in sport as in the wider population.

The sport and exercise medicine (SEM) clinician's role is to recognise it, respond without judgement and direct the athlete to the right help.

It matters clinically because:

• •It often accompanies anxiety and low mood, and can be a way of coping with them
• •It affects health, recovery and injury risk
• •Several of the substances involved are prohibited in sport
• •An injured athlete managing pain may come to rely on opioids, so careful prescribing and honest conversations are part of prevention

Substance misuse is a health problem, not a moral failing, and it responds to support and treatment.