DRUGS AND THE COLLEGE ATHLETE - AN ANALYSIS OF THE ATTITUDES OF STUDENT-ATHLETES AT RISK

Theories related to planned behavior and reasoned action have included an individual's attitude as an important factor in the formation of b ehavioral intentions and behaviors [1, 2]. Research on this topic sugg ests that salient beliefs affect intentions and subsequent behaviors, either through attitudes or subjective norms, or the degree of (percei ved) control that an individual feels he/she has over the behavior. Th is study was designed to examine the relative importance of selected a ttitude variables in describing a profile of athletes who were at risk for using anabolic steroids, human grown hormone, amphetamines, cocai ne, and marijuana. Responses from 563 student athletes at two Division One NCAA universities were used in the study. The results of this stu dy suggest that subjective norms, based on the influence of drug testi ng, peer influence, and a fear of detection are significant factors th at influence the decisions of student athletes related to using banned substances. In this article characteristics of at-risk athletes are p resented with recommendations for drug education programs for student athletes.