Abstract

Compared with their nonathlete peers, collegiate athletes consume higher quantities of alcohol, drink with greater frequency, and exhibit increased propensities to engage in heavy episodic drinking (ie, binge drinking).1–3 Given their high-risk drinking behaviors, student-athletes are more likely to experience alcohol-related consequences.4,5 Compared with nonathletes, collegiate athletes also are more likely to engage in other maladaptive lifestyle behaviors, such as participating in physical fights and riding with an intoxicated driver, and less likely to engage in protective behaviors, such as wearing a helmet while operating a motorcycle, moped, or bicycle.6 Taken together, these behaviors clearly pose a health risk for student-athletes and increase the likelihood that they will experience alcohol-related unintentional injuries (ARUIs). An ARUI represents a risk not only to the health and well-being of collegiate athletes but also to their athletic performances, collegiate careers, and potential professional opportunities. Head athletic trainers (ATs) contend that alcohol abuse during and after athletic and social events continues to be an important concern for the health and safety of student-athletes. In a recent cross-sectional study, Brenner et al8 observed that, overall, approximately 18% of collegiate athletes experienced ARUIs and most of these occurred during the athletes' first and second years in school. Furthermore, they noted that 38% of collegiate athletes identified ARUI as a serious issue facing them.8 Moreover, approximately 56% of ATs recently reported that during the 2010–2011 academic year, they evaluated, treated, or referred an average of 3 ARUIs, most of which (63%) were classified as either moderate or severe. Not surprisingly, Brenner et al9 observed that most ATs (73.4%) assert that ARUIs are a serious problem affecting the health of collegiate athletes, with 65.7% believing that they should be involved in the alcohol-related screening process for student-athletes. In addition, Brenner et al reported that most ATs contend that more training is necessary to help them (1) identify student-athletes with ARUIs (79%), (2) confront student-athletes with alcohol-related problems (79.7%), and (3) involve themselves in the referral process (92%).9 Furthermore, most head ATs have also expressed interest in becoming more involved with alcohol intervention programs.7 Considering that most university ATs already are substantially involved with regularly evaluating and treating non–alcohol-related injuries among student-athletes, ATs can and should play important roles in recognizing and evaluating ARUIs among student-athletes, especially given their expressed desire for more training in the intervention, prevention, and referral of ARUIs. Furthermore, ATs view themselves as “safe, approachable, care-taking individuals with whom athletes felt comfortable disclosing personal information,”10(p150) placing them in a unique position to provide appropriate intervention when necessary. Verf.-Referat