Effect of Education on Performance-enhancing Drug Abuse by Bodybuilders

Introduction: Abusing performance-enhancing and illicit drugs among young adults remains an issue of concern in today’s society. Performance-enhancing drug abuse has bad effects on all fields such as health, economic and culture of community. Performance-enhancing drug abuse relatively is common in Iran, particularly in Kermanshah. This article shows the results of research that was conducted to define the effect of education on percentage of performance-enhancing drug abuse by bodybuilders.

Materials & Methods: Sample size in this quasi-experimental study was equal to 360 people, but we invited over 600 body building club’s members to participate in educational programs. Before starting the program,369 people and a month afterward 312 athletics completed Self-administered questionnaires-contained; demographic information, using drug (yes/no, what, why). To determine the effects of education on performance-enhancing drug abuse rate among bodybuilders, the percentage of performance-enhancing drug abusers before and after intervention was campared. Lastly, the Data gathered were analyzed by McNemar test.

Results: The results of this study showed that 74.5% cases were less than 25 years. According to the results of this research, there was statistically significant differences between percentage of performance-enhancing drug abused bodybuilders before and after intervention (before = 50.14%, after= 33.44%, p=0.000). Educational effects in younger men and in persons with low literacy were significantly higher than the elders and high literacy persons. In addition, most athletes believed that education about correct nutrition and knowing safe supplements are the best way to prevent performance-enhancing drug abuse. 

Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that educational interventions can significantly reduce performance-enhancing drug consumption and this effect among younger people with low literacy is much higher. Therefore, sport medicine physicians can play a variety of important roles as educators, counselors, and support systems on young athletes, regarding the effects of substance abuse.