Format
Scientific article
Published by / Citation
Philip Veliz, Carol J. Boyd, Sean Esteban McCabe. Nonmedical Prescription Opioid and Heroin Use Among Adolescents Who Engage in Sports and Exercise. Pediatrics 2016: 10.1542.
Original Language

English

Country
United States

Teen Athletes and Opioid Use

Previous research has shown that young athletes might be at greater risk of nonmedical prescription opioid use due to injuries. However, a new study found that sports participation might act as a protective factor against opioid as well as heroin use. Young people who engaged in sports and exercise were less likely to use opioids without a doctor’s prescription. They were also less likely to use heroin compared to their non-athlete peers. According to the study, nonmedical prescription opioid use decreased from 8.8% in 1997 to 4.4% in 2014 and heroin use dropped from 1.8% to 0.8% among adolescent athletes.