Substance use patterns in elite athletes: a scoping review of alcohol, performance-enhancing drugs and other psychoactive substances

The authors conducted a scoping review to systematically map and synthesize the literature on substance use patterns among elite athletes, including recreational substances, performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs), and polysubstance use. They found that while alcohol was the most studied substance, the research exhibited significant gaps in methodology, conceptual understanding, and representation of diverse athlete populations. The authors advocate for future studies to adopt longitudinal designs and incorporate mental health frameworks to better address substance-related vulnerabilities in this demographic.