Opiate Use Patterns Among Collegiate Athletes

Abstract

Objective/aim: The purpose of this study is to determine the rates of prescribed opiate use and misuse among current collegiate athletes.

Materials and methods: This was an observational survey study conducted at a single institution; Division I Collegiate Athletics Department. The participants in the study were current Division I Collegiate Student-Athletes. The survey queried athletes' age, gender, and history of injury or orthopedic surgery before and during college. Athletes were asked about prior opiate prescriptions, length of medication use, and reasons for opiate use.

Results: Of196 student-athlete respondents, the average age was 20.1 years and 62.8% were female. Pre-collegiate orthopedic injuries/surgeries were reported by 45.4% of athletes, of which 40.4% received an opiate prescription. Collegiate orthopedic injuries/surgeries were reported by 28.6% of athletes; 46.4% received an opiate prescription. Fifty-two student-athletes (26.5%) had received an opiate prescription after an orthopedic injury or surgery. The length of opiate use was most commonly 2 weeks or less. Female athletes had a higher rate of collegiate injuries (P<0.05) and a nonsignificant trend towards more opiate prescriptions. Among the 26 student-athletes who received collegiate opiate prescriptions, the reasons for taking opiates were most commonly pain (84.6%) and sleep (46.2%). Opiate use outside of prescribed indication was present in 14 athletes (7.1% of the total); 12 were female.

Conclusion: A quarter of collegiate student-athletes had received an opiate prescription due to orthopedic injury or surgery, with a small subset using opiates for non-analgesic functions. Future research should examine risk factors for opiate misuse among collegiate athletes.

Keywords: collegiate athlete; gender; opiate misuse; orthopedic sports medicine; pain management; sports medicine.