ABSTRACT
The use of substances is endemic in our society, and substance use among the athlete population has increasingly become an area of inquiry in recent decades. The bulk of research has focused on collegiate level athletes, with studies consistently showing this population engaging in higher rates of substance consumption compared to non-sporting peers. The occurrence of this phenomenon is well-documented; however, an explanation is lacking. Of the areas explored, motivation models and social norms of athletes comprise a bulk of the research base. Athletic identity, alcohol expectancies, and personality characteristics have also been theorized as contributing variables underlying substance use amongst athletes. This chapter provides an overview of the existing literature regarding prevalence rates for the use of various substances across sport type and competitive level as well as highlight the evidentiary support for the existing theories driving use in this population.
