Sports practices related to alcohol and tobacco use among high school students

Objective: To examine the relationship between alcohol and tobacco use and sports in a national sample of secondary students. Methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled a representative sample of secondary students from public and private schools from all 27 Brazilian state capitals. Students were assessed in 2010 by a self-report questionnaire including questions on drug use and sport activity in the last month (n=13,872). Results: Subjects who played sports exhibited a higher frequency of alcohol use and heavy episodic drinking than their peers who did not play sports. Practices that were associated with higher odds of heavy episodic drinking in the last month included gym, weight training (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]: 2.0, 95% confidence interval [95%Cl] 1.6-2.4), and soccer (aOR: 1.3, 95%Cl 1.1-1.5). Fighting, martial arts, or capoeira were associated with smoking (aOR: 1.9, 95%Cl 1.2-3.2). Conclusion: These results suggest a relationship between some sports preferences and a higher risk of alcohol or tobacco use among Brazilian secondary students. This relationship should be considered in preventive programs.