Beyond the U-curve: the relationship between sport and alcohol, cigarette and cannabis use in adolescents (2002)

FRANÇAIS :
Enquête nationale menée en France en 1999, auprès de 10807 jeunes âgés de 14 à 19 ans, dont la conclusion montre que le lien entre l'intensité des activités sportives et la consommation de drogues licites ou illicites ne se présente pas systématiquement selon une courbe en "U", le produit lui-même et son type d'usage ayant une influence certaine.
ENGLISH :
AIMS: This study aimed at increasing understanding of the relationship between sporting activities and alcohol, cigarette and cannabis use among adolescents, by examining gender, age and the context of sporting practice. DESIGN, SETTING, SUBJECTS: The study was a national school survey (n=10807; ages 14-19 years) conducted in France in 1999. MEASURES: Respondents were asked confidentially by self-administered questionnaire (pen and paper) about their use of licit and illicit drugs and life-style (including sporting activities outside school: hours per week, registration in a club, type of sport). FINDINGS: The U-shaped curve between the intensity of physical activities and licit and illicit drug use appeared not to be systematic. It depended mainly on the product and the level of use. It only remained significant for boys and heavy smoking once gender and age effect were taken into account. CONCLUSION: The results stress the need to control for age and gender when the survey participants are teenagers. The relationship between drug use and sporting activity also depends on the type of sport. (Review' s abstract)