This finding is the result of new research published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs and summarized in a Science Daily release.

This study examined 234 male athletes at one university and found that those who used performance enhancers – which ranged from steroids to stimulants to weight-loss supplements – were more likely to admit to drinking heavily and using drugs such as marijuana and cocaine. The study also found elevated rates of alcohol- and drug-related problems, including missed classes, failed tests or getting into fights.

According to study co-author Dr. Robert J. Pandina, the implication of the study findings is that many athletes are not only experimenting with recreational drugs and alcohol, but also suffering the consequences.

Dr. Jennifer F. Buckman, assistant research professor at the Center of Alcohol Studies, led the research and found that nearly one third of the athletes studied acknowledged using a performance-enhancing substance in the past year.

As a whole, athletes who used performance-enhancing substances reported higher rates of drug and alcohol use. Marijuana was used by 70 percent of students and one third admitted to using cocaine. These steroid-using students also had higher rates of smoking, binge drinking and prescription-drug misuse.

Researchers believe that athletes who use performance enhancers are more likely than nonusers to be natural sensation-seekers. In other words, these students have a desire for new and varied experiences. At the same time, they are also more like to have used drugs or alcohol to cope with stress and anxiety.