Link between sports and drugs

[Alkatran]

Has anyone seen those commercials about getting your kids in sports because they're less likely to do drugs? Apparently it keeps them away from it.

Isn't it more likely that taking drugs causes kids to leave sports? Are there any statistics done on if a child did sports when they were younger compared to current drug use?

[drkitten]

Originally posted by Alkatran
Has anyone seen those commercials about getting your kids in sports because they're less likely to do drugs? Apparently it keeps them away from it.

Isn't it more likely that taking drugs causes kids to leave sports? Are there any statistics done on if a child did sports when they were younger compared to current drug use?

Repeat after me:

Correlation does not imply causation.

My bet is that both, sports participation and drug use, are caused by a third factor.... something like, oh, parenting and peer pressure?

[Alkatran]

Originally posted by new drkitten
Repeat after me:

Correlation does not imply causation.

My bet is that both, sports participation and drug use, are caused by a third factor.... something like, oh, parenting and peer pressure?

Also possible. I'm aware that correlation is not causation. I should have been more clear.

[jimlintott]

I found this. (http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k2/athletes/athletes_DrugUse.htm)

It does show that sports participants drug use was lower than non-participants. I don't see the numbers as being large enough to have any guarantees of success though.

Googling for "drug use sports" draws a different picture. At the top levels it seems that many sports are rife with drug use.

If the survey was done on 'A' students compared to 'C' students you would probably see similar numbers is my wild guess. (We all know how valid wild guesses are ;) .)

I don't believe organised sports are a magical panacea to keep kids off drugs.

[aargh57]

Originally posted by jimlintott
I found this. (http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k2/athletes/athletes_DrugUse.htm)



If the survey was done on 'A' students compared to 'C' students you would probably see similar numbers is my wild guess. (We all know how valid wild guesses are ;) .)

I don't believe organised sports are a magical panacea to keep kids off drugs.


I don't believe they are either but it's a little harder for some kids to get A's than to sign up for the basketball team. Not to mention that there are more benefits to playing sports than staying off drugs. Of course there are lots of factors but I think that organised sports are for the most part beneficial to young people.

[tsg]

Originally posted by jimlintott
I found this. (http://www.oas.samhsa.gov/2k2/athletes/athletes_DrugUse.htm)

It does show that sports participants drug use was lower than non-participants. I don't see the numbers as being large enough to have any guarantees of success though.

It shows a correllation between sports participation and lower drug use, not causation. The study simply states that athletes, in general, are less likely to be drug users. It doesn't imply that becoming an athlete will reduce anyone's likelihood of using drugs. There may be an unknown characteristic that causes both which the study doesn't address (such as a greater interest in one's health).

The claim that getting your kids involved in sports will make them less likely to use drugs is not borne out by the study. If your kids are doing drugs because they're bored, then yes, this might work. It won't, however, solve a number of other problems which may contribute to drug use.