A longitudinal study published in the Journal of Drug Issues has found that joining a sports team makes youths in the United States less likely to smoke marijuana but more likely to drink alcohol.
The study, published June 2013, was based on 8,179 youths aged from 9 to 18 from the National Survey of Parents and Youth. These youths completed the survey every year for four years, from November 1999 to June 2004.
Youths who participated in team sports were less likely to try marijuana, but had a higher rate of alcohol use over time, compared to youths who did not participate.
“Thus, while participating in team sports may be protective against marijuana use, it may enhance risk for alcohol use when examining the effect over time.”
Several factors could account for the difference between marijuana and alcohol use, according to the researchers.
One thing that could dissuade members of sports teams from using marijuana is drug tests.
Another factor is each drug’s negative physiological effects. Though both alcohol and marijuana can impair performance and damage the lungs, the effects of alcohol are “generally are less immediately obvious,” the researchers said.
Another factor that could contribute to reduce marijuana use but increased drinking is sports culture.
“Drinking with other team members also might be a way to increase team unity,” the researchers explained. “In addition, organized sport often is associated with socializing outside of the practice or game environment and often involves the use of alcohol. Youth are highly influenced by peer norms and it might be because of this that we see the opposite pattern for marijuana use.”