5 Warning Signs an Athlete is Struggling with Addiction

Athletes are a special group of people, often pushed to their limits in performing competitively at a high level, exercising a lot, and eating different foods to fuel their body. The same competitive streak inside of an athlete can lead to stress and injury. Addiction can sometimes form out of dependence on these drugs to get them through their performances. Discover the warning signs of athletes with addiction and some tips on how to help.

Common Issues with Athletes

Athletes are just as likely to use alcohol and commonly used drugs but they also tend to use performance-enhancing drugs most frequently. These types of drugs are called ergogenic blends, including erythropoietin, anabolic-androgenic steroids, and stimulants.

• Erythropoietin is a hormone that enhances an athlete’s performance by increasing stamina by boosting the red blood cell count in the body. It may become dangerous when too much of it is in the body.
• Steroids are muscle-builders that often are used and abused by athletes. When taken over a long period of time, they can lead to significant medical issues including heart problems and liver failure. Psychologically, an athlete might experience depression, violent tendencies, aggression, and mood swings if using steroids.
• Methamphetamines and cocaine are sometimes used by athletes in order to maintain higher levels of energy and alertness. This is sometimes used to increase aggressiveness in combat sports like boxing, martial arts, and wrestling.
• Narcotics are becoming a huge problem in the world of athletics. As more athletes push their bodies to the far limits of their capacities, injuries, chronic pain, and even life threatening injuries are being sustained (such as traumatic brain injury from too many concussions). To deal with the pain, athletes turn to painkillers, which may lead to dependence, abuse, addiction, and a host of other issues.

Warning Signs

An athlete who is using substances and is struggling with addiction may exhibit some of the following warning signs:

• Overactive or underactive disposition
• Excessive sneezing or runny nose
• Changes in appetite
• Excessive weight gain or loss
• Bloodshot or red eyes, dilated or pinpoint pupils (depends on substance)
• Swelling or puffiness of neck
• Acne (performance-enhancing drugs)
• Hypertension
• Anxiety and depression
• Insomnia
• Denial of substance use
• Rationalization or alibis and excuses for behavior
• Changes in social circles
• Loss of enjoyment in daily activities or sport itself
• Financial problems

Sometimes, an athlete will have more obvious signs of hidden paraphernalia that are stashed in bags, inside clothes pockets that are hidden or inside pill vials. The key is to notice when an athlete’s disposition has changed and to find out more about what may be going on behind the scenes.

Treatment for Athletes

Finding treatment for athlete’s can be difficult. It may be hard to convince an athlete to seek help because they do not want to stop doing their activity in order to seek help. Using drugs also gives them an edge but long-term, they can cost them scholarships, endorsements, competitions, and ultimately, even their lives. When seeking treatment for an athlete:

• Find a place with supervised detox in an environment with medical oversight of the entire detox process
• Find a place that handles dual diagnosis for mental health concerns
• Find a place that honors and understands relapse prevention and intervention for people who have experienced detox before but need it again following relapse
• Seek a space that provides holistic care in a compassionate environment, sensitive to the needs of athletes, including confidentiality

Detox is a mixture of physical, mental, and emotional processes that make it difficult to go through without the right kind of help. A residential detox facility like Serenity Recovery Detox helps people make the right choice while faced with hard decisions around recovery in a comforting, safe space.

Serenity is here to help guide your decision regarding detox and recovery. Whether you are new to detox and recovery or you have relapsed, we withhold judgment to focus on your specific needs and desires.  Call us 24/7 at our toll-free number to get started: 866-294-9401

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