Download Alcohol and Other Drugs Alcohol and Other Drugs

Alcohol and
Other Drugs
Workshop for National Youth Swimmers
A guide to delivering a one hour alcohol and other drugs workshop to
swimmers aged approximately 13-17 years old.
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This resource has been developed on behalf of swimming Australia Limited to support the
PowerPoint presentation titled “Alcohol and Other Drugs Workshop for National Youth Swimmers
(aged approximately 18 years old and over)”.
Swimming Australia Limited.
June 2013
Prepared by Karina Hickey and Annie Bleeker.
Introduction: BEING A CLUB CHAMPION
The Club Champions and Illicit Drugs in Sport Programs aim to enlist sporting organisations and sports people to
reduce the levels of binge drinking and illicit drug use in the community.
This resource provides information about the impact of alcohol and other drugs on the functioning of your body and
mind and also your ability to train and compete at optimal level.
Swimming Australia Limited (SAL) has a zero tolerance to illicit drug use policy as well as a dry team policy with
regard to alcohol. This means that when the team is assembled to prepare for, attend and participate in an event,
members are not allowed to drink alcohol or consume illicit or prohibited drugs.
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About this Presenter’s Guide
This Presenter’s Guide is designed to accompany the PowerPoint presentation “Alcohol and Other Drugs Workshop for
National Open Swimmers.”
It has been produced to assist coaches, managers and others to facilitate training sessions to swimmers and stakeholders about alcohol and other drugs within their swimming clubs.
This Presenter’s Guide combines edited content from two recent Commonwealth Government initiatives to educate
Australian athletes about alcohol and other drugs (AOD); the ‘Club Champions’ and the ‘Illicit Drugs in Sport’ (IDiS)
programs. Further information is also provided about the effects of alcohol and other drugs on sporting performance,
statistical trends on alcohol and other drug use relevant to this age group, athlete wellbeing and safety, and where to
get further help or information. Facilitation tips, suggested activities, knowledge quizzes and suggestions about audio-visual content are also provided in this Presenter’s Guide to increase the confidence of facilitators and to ensure
workshops are interactive in order to maximise athlete engagement.
This Presenter’s Guide has been developed by two experienced facilitators of the Club Champions and the Illicit Drugs
in Sport (IDiS) programs with a background in alcohol and other drug research, training, education and curriculum
and resource development.
Anti-doping
The focus of this package is on alcohol and illicit drugs and not on anti-doping or drug testing. Please consult the
latest information on anti-doping or drug testing from ASADA and WADA available online:
http://www.asada.gov.au/
http://www.wada-ama.org/
Target audience
The target audience for this Presenter’s Guide is any coach, club manager or club stakeholder who wishes to facilitate an alcohol or other drug education session with swimmers aged approximately 13-17 years old.
Swimmers at any level of experience or skill can be targeted.
How to use the Presenter’s Guide and PowerPoint presentation
Before you start, familiarise yourself with the training materials, as well as the background information relating to the
slides in the PowerPoint presentation. Decide how you wish to facilitate your session and which of the activities or
optional extras will be appropriate for your athletes.
The PowerPoint and accompanying activities are designed to run as a one hour (approximately) educational session.
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Background information on the Club Champions
and Illicit Drugs in Sport programs
Club Champions
The Club Champions program is a $2 million initiative of the Commonwealth Government’s National Binge Drinking
Strategy to equip sportspeople to promote responsible attitudes and practices towards alcohol.
A National Alcohol Code of Conduct underpins the Club Champions Program. In 2009, seven sporting organisations
signed up to the Code – the Australian Football League, the National Rugby League, the Australian Rugby Union,
Cricket Australia, Football Federation Australia, Netball Australia and Swimming Australia.
These seven sporting organisations participate in the Club Champions Program. To help educate sportspeople to
be advocates for responsible drinking, those nominated by their sporting organisation or their club/team, including
athletes/players, coaches, support personnel and officials, will take part in alcohol education sessions based around
the key messages from the National Binge Drinking Strategy (short- and long-term harms associated with drinking to
intoxication, the need for personal responsibility and the need to understand a standard drink size).
Further Information about the Code of Conduct is available here:
https://secure.ausport.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0020/335450/CodeOfConduct.pdf
Illicit Drugs in Sport (IDiS)
Illicit drugs can be harmful to athletes and bring sport into disrepute. There are many examples of how alcohol and
other drug use and abuse can destroy the careers of successful young athletes. The use of illicit drugs in sport is
particularly disappointing because so many young Australians look up to our athletes as role models.
Through the IDiS Program, the Government is supporting national sporting organisations to ensure Australian athletes
have the education and support they need to make the right choices when it comes to illicit drugs.
The main aims of the IDiS program are to:
• prevent illicit drug use in elite sport through education programs targeted at athletes,
coaches and administrators;
• harness the power of positive sporting role models to help deliver community education
about the harms of illicit drug use; and
• assist athletes identified with a drug problem in getting help.
Further information about the IDiS program is available here: http://www.regional.gov.au/sport/programs/idis.aspx
Further information about Swimming Australia’s roll-out and implementation of the program
is available here: http://www.swimming.org.au/customdata/index.cfm?fuseaction=CustomItem&ItemID=48110
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Participant outcomes and competencies
Skills and knowledge:
> Know the categories that alcohol, cannabis and other illicit drugs fall into (e.g. depressants)
> Understand the effects of alcohol and other illicit drugs on the body and brain
> Understand the effects of alcohol and other drugs on sporting performance
> Understand that irresponsible alcohol use or illegal drug use can affect an athlete’s physical health, career, reputation, and relationships (liver, livelihood, law and lover)
> Understand Swimming Australia’s policies and views on alcohol and illicit drugs
Attitudes:
> Irresponsible alcohol use and illicit drug use can affect an athlete’s performance, team,
future and character
> Athletes are role models to other people involved in sport and to the wider community
> In a tech-savvy age, smart phones and easy internet access can broadcast regrettable actions
permanently
Environment:
> Irresponsible alcohol use and illicit drug use are not tolerated by teams, coaches, or administrators
> If a swimmer, or a team mate, were in need of help or support, they could and would get it
> What swimmers do outside the pool is also part of the club’s concern
> Swimmers should not place themselves in environments where illicit drugs or binge drinking are likely to be present
Room set-up and group numbers
This session is best facilitated with a group of 15-25 swimmers to enable the group work activity at the end of the
session to function well and to encourage an interactive environment with discussion and questions. The room can
be best set-up in a horseshoe shape or with smaller groups of tables and chairs. If need be, this session can also be
facilitated to a larger group as a presentation, by omitting the group work activity, allowing any room set-up to be
used. Discussion questions should still be posed to a larger group and interaction encouraged where possible.
Presentation requirements and what to bring on the day:
• Room with projector and screen to play PowerPoint and laptop if needed
• PowerPoint saved on USB and online as a backup. It is advised to save this in compatible format
for 2003-2007 versions
• Working speakers to play videos or pre-check that the training room has these facilities
• Internet access to pre-loaded videos (or save them to a device such as a USB and play from there)
• Pens for all participants
• Printed feedback forms for all participants
• Printed quizzes if choosing printed method rather than on-screen delivery
• Printed ‘set the scene’ activities (approximately one per four participants) if including this activity
Introducing confidentiality
Open this session by stating that you are talking about sensitive topics and pose that whatever is discussed in
the room should remain confidential. Acknowledge that consuming alcohol before the age of 18 and consumption
of substances such as cannabis, ecstasy and amphetamines is illegal, however, research indicates that such
consumption does occur; therefore participants should be encouraged to ask questions freely. State that you will not
ask participants about their individual drug or alcohol use. A useful way of avoiding direct disclosure about personal
alcohol or other drug use is to suggest participants pose comments or questions as if they were talking about a
friend’s experience, i.e. “Someone I know had this happen to them...”
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Facilitation Tip
Avoid reading from the PowerPoint slides. Each slide contains a
number of written points of information that the participants can
read themselves and another two to three points of information, or
a story, anecdote or discussion question presented by the facilitator.
Facilitation Tip
A note about self-disclosure from young athletes; if a participant
is willing to share a story or ask a question this can be valuable to
the group learning process. However, if it becomes apparent that a
young person is about to incriminate themself, the facilitator should
attempt to stop the young person from doing so and move the
session forward.
Triangulation of learning diagram
In a well-facilitated workshop, participants learn from the facilitator, the facilitator learns from participants,
and participants learn from each other.
Trainer/Facilitator
Participants
Facilitation Tip
Participants
As coaches, senior swimmers, club managers or other stakeholders, you have probably seen first-hand the consequences of alcohol
or illicit drug use and the impact on athletes. Perhaps you even
have personal experience. Sharing your stories with the group will
add credibility and depth to the session. There is however, no need
for self-disclosure — you can speak in general terms or share
stories on behalf of others.
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Notes to accompany PowerPoint slides
Slides 1-2: Introduction – What is today about?
Introduce yourself and the topics for the session, explain the workshop will run for approximately 60 minutes, will
be interactive and include quizzes, video and activities. Attend to house-keeping issues (i.e. toilets, etc.), discuss
confidentiality (see break out box) and answer any initial questions the group might have.
You may also like to provide a background and rationale for the session i.e. what the Club Champions and Illicit Drugs
in Sport Programs are about, why the Australian Government has chosen to invest in athletes and educate them
about the harms of alcohol and other drugs in relation to swimming, and how athletes can make wiser choices.
Slide 3-4: What do you already know? Alcohol and Other Drugs in Sport Quiz
Choose one option for the initial Alcohol and Other Drugs in Sport Quiz
You can use slide 3 to accompany the 10 question paper quiz (you will need to print enough copies for the group
beforehand see Appendix 3 – Alcohol and Other Drugs in Sport Quiz).
• Ask the group to fill in the Quiz and keep until the end of the session when you will all go through the
answers together
• The answers to all quiz questions are in Appendix 4 – Answers to the Alcohol and
Other Drugs in Sport Quiz
If you would prefer to discuss the True/False statements orally with the group you can use the Quick Quiz slide 4
instead. If you do the exercise orally:
• Give the group three minutes to discuss with the person next to them which of the six statements on
the screen are true/false? Go through the answers together in the whole group
• Ask people to report their answers to the big group and discuss
• The answers to the True/False Quiz slide 4 are in Appendix 5 – Quick Quiz answers
Slides 5-6: Alcohol overview/who drinks what and how much?
Alcohol is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant and falls into the depressant drug category. Clarify to the group
that depressant drugs do not necessarily make people depressed, rather, they ‘depress’ or slow down the central
nervous system.
• Ask the group if they know what the CNS comprises?
• Explain that the CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord. Alcohol slows down breathing and
heart rate, induces relaxation and reduces inhibitions, which is often why it is consumed
The statistics on young people’s alcohol use are taken from the Australian Secondary Schools Alcohol and
Drug Survey 2008. The full report is available here: http://www.nationaldrugstrategy.gov.au/internet/drugstrategy/
publishing.nsf/Content/2C4E3D846787E47BCA2577E600173CBE/$File/school08.pdf
Explain to the group that:
• Some women tend to consume beverages with higher alcohol content per volume such as spirits and
wine, over beer, therefore they are deemed to drink at riskier levels. They also tend to choose drinks
with higher sugar content such as spirits mixed with juice or soft drink and thus generally consume
more calories than men when drinking
• Ask the group if they agree/disagree with these statistics (based on high school students)
and if they feel they are comparable to themselves as athletes?
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Slide: 7-8: Standard Drinks (SD) and Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC)
What is a standard drink?
Alcohol differs in strength. Usually beers range from 1%-6% alcohol content; wines are between 12%-14%, and
spirits (such as vodka, bourbon and Jägermeister) range between 20%-40% alcohol content.
Alcohol is measured in ‘standard drinks’. A standard drink contains 10 grams of alcohol. All cans and bottles are
required by law to list the number of standard drinks they contain. Remember, the drinks you purchase or pour for
yourself generally contain more than one standard drink.
As a guide: 100ml of wine (a small glass), 30ml of spirits (a shot) and a midi of beer (270ml small glass) are all one
standard drink.
Explain to the group that one standard drink includes:
• Any alcoholic drink that contains 10 grams of alcohol
• Middy (small pub glass) of full strength beer - 285 ml
• Shot of spirits - 30ml
• Small glass of wine or champagne - 100ml
One standard drink will cause a person’s blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to reach approximately 0.01% to 0.03%,
meaning that between 1% and 3% of a person’s blood stream is alcohol. One pre-mixed spirit, which is 1.5 SD, can
take BAC to 0.05%.
More information on standard drinks can be found here: http://www.dassa.sa.gov.au/site/page.cfm?u=121
Explain to the group that BAC is affected by the following:
• Body size: A smaller person will have a higher BAC than a larger person, because the alcohol is
concentrated in a smaller body mass
• Empty stomach: Someone with an empty stomach will reach a higher BAC sooner than someone who
has just eaten a meal. Food in the stomach slows down the rate at which alcohol passes into the
bloodstream
• Body fat: People with a lot of body fat tend to have higher BAC. Alcohol is not absorbed into fatty
tissue, so the alcohol is concentrated in a smaller body mass
• Gender: After consuming the same amount of alcohol, a female will almost always have a higher BAC
than a male, due to having a higher percentage of body fat
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Driving and BAC:
• A BAC of 0.00% is required for all Learner and Provisional drivers in Australia
• A BAC of under 0.02% applies to drivers of public vehicles such as taxis and buses, as well as gross
mass vehicles (e.g. trucks) in most states and territories
• A BAC of under 0.05% applies to fully licensed drivers
As a driver’s BAC rises, so does the risk of being involved in a crash.
• 0.05% = double the risk
• 0.08% = 7 times the risk
• 0.15% = 25 times the risk
For more information on BAC and driving click here: http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/roadsafety/alcoholdrugs/index.html
Sobering up
Ask the group:
• What have you heard about ways to lower BAC faster i.e. how might you be able to get rid of alcohol
from your system?
Myths include:
• Drinking water, vomiting, eating greasy, fatty foods or bread, drinking coffee or electrolyte-based
drinks, having a cold shower, doing exercise etc. NONE of these methods work to reduce a person’s
BAC, as alcohol is mostly processed through the liver and this takes between 60-90 minutes per
standard drink (particularly for women and those with liver conditions, etc.)
• Some of these methods such as drinking water, may reduce or prevent the symptoms of a hangover
but they will not eliminate alcohol from the blood stream faster
SOBERING ALCOHOL FACTS
• Each week 60 Australians die and 1500 people are hospitalised due to alcohol use
• Alcohol is directly responsible for 70,000 assaults and 24,000 domestic violence cases per year
• Alcohol is estimated to cost the Australian community about $36 billion per year
Source: AERF (2010) for more information click here:
http://alcoholireland.ie/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/alcohole28099s-harm-to-others-alcohol-education-and-rehabilitation-foundation-australia-2010.pdf
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Slide 9: 2009 Australian Alcohol Guidelines
Explain to the group:
That the Australian guidelines on alcohol were recently reviewed and changed by the National Health and Medical
Research Council (NHMRC) in 2009.
• “This guideline is based on evidence showing that the risks of accidents, injuries, violence and
self-harm are high among drinkers aged under 18 years. Drinkers under 15 years of age are much
more likely than older drinkers to experience risky or antisocial behaviour connected with their
drinking, with the rates also somewhat elevated among drinkers aged 15-17 years. In addition, the
evidence suggests that earlier initiation of drinking is related to more frequent and higher quantity
alcohol consumption in adolescence, and these patterns are in turn related to the development of
alcohol-related harms in adolescence and adulthood.” P.58
Source: NHMRC (2009) for more information click here:
http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/publications/attachments/ds10-alcohol.pdf
• Highlight to the group that the brain continues to grow and develop until the mid-20s and a range of
studies have linked alcohol consumption to adverse brain development and alcohol-related problems
later in life.
Slide 10: Alcohol and energy drinks
Energy drinks like Red Bull and Mother contain stimulants such as caffeine and guarana, which mask the sedative
effects of alcohol when they are combined. This means that you don’t feel as drunk, tend to drink more and believe
you are less impaired by the effects of alcohol than you actually are.
Explain to the group that:
• The main active ingredients in commonly available energy drinks are caffeine and guarana
• Energy drinks delay the depressive effects of alcohol on the central nervous system, which can result
in a higher consumption of alcohol
Source: Ballistreri and Corradi-Webster (2008) for more information click here:
http://www.scielo.br/pdf/rlae/v16nspe/09.pdf
• Combined consumption of energy drinks and alcohol may affect an individual’s judgment by reducing
the subjective sensation of intoxication. In other words, the individual may not feel as drunk as they
actually are which can lead to increased risk of accidents, personal injury or health and social
problems associated with impaired judgment
Source: Ferreira et al. (2006) for more information click here:
http://control.visionscape.com.au/SiteFiles/hunterlifeeducationorgau/200604_Ferreira_et_al.pdf
• Caffeine and alcohol are both diuretics and drinking both in combination post-performance further inhibits rehydration and subsequently delays recovery for those who have been engaged
in physical activity
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Slide 11: Drink spiking
Ask the group what the most common drug to be used when spiking someone’s drink is? Expected responses include
Rohypnol, Gammahydroxy-butyrate (GHB) and Ketamine. While these drugs may be used in a small sample of drink
spiking cases (although toxicology results in many cases don’t support these claims), alcohol is by far the most common drug and is used in the majority of drink spiking cases. This can mean adding extra alcohol to a drink already
containing it, or adding alcohol to a non-alcoholic drink. The perpetrator can be known to the victim and may spike
their drink as a ‘prank’, either out of curiosity or to ‘loosen them up’ or perhaps for sexual advantage.
Ask the group:
• Do you think it is reasonable to spike a friend’s drink and what could the consequences be?
o For example, the victim could be planning on driving or may be taking medications that are
contraindicated with alcohol, such as antibiotics, antidepressants, some pain killers and
antihistamines
For further Information on alcohol and contraindications please click here:
http://www.therightmix.gov.au/resources/documents/P01994E_Alcohol_-_Medications.pdf
When drugs other than alcohol are added to drinks they often change the taste or leave a chalky residue, negating
the myth that drink spiking is a colourless, odourless and tasteless crime. GHB for example (see information in
appendices) has a particularly strong, chemical taste. If someone suspects their drink has been spiked they should
dispose of it immediately.
Ask the group:
• Ho w can you minimise the risks associated with drink spiking?
• i.e. don’t leave your drink unattended, discard any unusual tasting drinks, don’t accept drinks from
strangers unless you witness them being poured, keep an eye on your friends, etc.
For a factsheet on drink spiking produced by NSW police click here:
http://www.police.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/81374/fact_sheet_drink_spiking_myths.pdf
For further information on drink spiking from The National Drug Strategy click here:
http://www.aic.gov.au/documents/7/8/D/%7B78D26268-98C6-4508-8A9A-AA6BD2E34108%7D2004-11-drinkspiking.pdf
Slide 12: Video - Alcohol and swimmers
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Slide 13: Illicit drugs and the CNS
This slide introduces basic information about alcohol and other drugs and the way that different substances affect the
central nervous system (CNS).
Information about cannabis and how it affects performance is included further below. Information about other illicit
drugs is included in the appendices of this Presenter’s Guide.
Stimulants:
Stimulants increase the activity of the CNS. Some stimulants produce a sense of euphoria. Stimulants are used therapeutically to increase or maintain alertness, to counteract fatigue in situations where sleep is not practical (e.g. while
operating vehicles), to counteract abnormal states that diminish alertness (such as in narcolepsy), to promote weight
loss, as well as to enhance the ability to concentrate in people diagnosed with attentional disruptions (especially
ADHD). Occasionally, they are also used to treat depression. Stimulants are sometimes used to boost endurance and
productivity as well as to suppress appetite.
Depressants:
Many depressants acting on the CNS do so by increasing the activity of a particular neurotransmitter known as
GABA (although others may be affected, depending on which drug is involved). GABA’s task is to calm the CNS and
to promote sleep. Drugs that stimulate the activity of GABA slow brain function and cause a drowsy or calm feeling,
and some depressant drugs are prescribed to relieve symptoms of anxiety or insomnia. Internal systems regulate
the body’s production of GABA, but when a substance is taken that stimulates GABA action, it is possible to induce
hazardously high levels, which can dangerously slow breathing and heart rate, and may result in death.
Hallucinogens:
Under the influence of hallucinogens, people may see images, hear sounds, and feel sensations that seem real but
do not exist. Some hallucinogens also produce rapid, intense emotional swings. Hallucinogens cause their effects by
disrupting the interaction of nerve cells and the neurotransmitter serotonin. Distributed throughout the brain and spinal cord, the serotonin system is involved in the control of behavioural, perceptual, and regulatory systems, including
mood, hunger, body temperature, sexual behaviour, muscle control, and sensory perception.
Ask the group:
• What drugs have you heard of or what have you seen in recent media about drugs?
Extra information about cannabis:
• Cannabis is the most commonly used of the illegal drugs with and around one in three adults over the
age of 14 having tried it
• It is usually smoked in joints (similar to a hand rolled cigarette) or in bongs (glass, plastic or
homemade devices with water to cool the smoke so it can be inhaled more deeply)
• Users can feel euphoric, relaxed, tired, uncoordinated, have red eyes and a dry mouth and throat. They may get ‘the munchies’ and crave sugary or fatty foods
• Smoking cannabis can lead to many of the same problems as smoking tobacco such as increased
risk of respiratory problems and cancers
• It is associated with an increased risk of mental health problems such as depression and anxiety and
can double the risk of developing schizophrenia
• It is illegal in all states of Australia to possess and sell cannabis and cannabis products – however South Australia, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have decriminalised
personal use of the drug i.e. being caught with small amounts of the drug will result in punishment similar to traffic offences such as fines. In other jurisdictions or for larger quantities, getting caught
with cannabis can lead to a criminal record and/or a large fine.
For specific information about cannabis laws in different states and territories please see: http://ncpic.org.au/ncpic/
publications/factsheets/article/cannabis-and-the-law
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Slide 13: Illicit drugs and the CNS (continued)
For further information on cannabis please click here:
http://ncpic.org.au/workforce/alcohol-and-other-drug-workers/cannabis-information/factsheets/
How does cannabis affect sporting performance?
Immediate effects of cannabis include slower reaction times, decreased cardiac stroke volume, lack of motivation
and reduced hand-eye coordination, all of which would make swimming increasingly difficult. It can also interfere
with appetite and potentially affect nutrition and body mass in the longer term. As it is commonly smoked, respiratory
problems are also apparent and these can reduce the body’s effectiveness in absorbing oxygen.
Further information:
http://ncpic.org.au/workforce/alcohol-and-other-drug-workers/cannabis-information/factsheets/article/cannabis-and-sport-factsheet
Slide 14: Polydrug use = mixing alcohol with….
Consuming more than one drug at the same time is called polydrug use and it can have unpredictable effects. For
example, mixing antibiotics with alcohol can increase the effects of the alcohol or decrease the effectiveness of
the medication. It should be noted, however, that this usually only occurs with a few types of antibiotics that are
prescribed for quite specific conditions, but it is usually a good idea to avoid alcohol if an infection is present.
For more information on alcohol and antibiotics click here:
http://theconversation.edu.au/mondays-medical-myth-you-cant-mix-antibiotics-with-alcohol-4407
Polydrug use caution also applies for over the counter medications e.g. taking aspirin thins the blood which can be
dangerous if drinking, especially if someone becomes injured and starts bleeding.
Considering that alcohol is a depressant drug which slows down the CNS, mixing it with stimulant drugs such as
speed, is telling the CNS to both slow down and speed up at the same time. This confuses the brain and body and
can make people feel sick or have more serious consequences including passing out or heart problems. When
consuming cocaine and alcohol simultaneously, a unique substance called cocaethylene is created in the body, which
can increase the risk of heart palpitations and a heart attack.
People who mix alcohol with cannabis are adding two depressant drugs into their system - doubling the effects on
the CNS. Some people believe if they do this in a particular order they will be at less risk, regardless, mixing them is
unpredictable.
Remember to mention that:
• Alcohol can make someone more likely to make the decision to try illicit drugs as it reduces their inhibitions
• Many people make decisions while sober to avoid illicit drugs but when placed in a situation where
they are present, and have consumed alcohol, their resolve may weaken
• Advise athletes to remove themselves from or avoid any situations they feel might put them at risk of
illicit drug use
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Slides 15-16: What are the good things about drinking alcohol?
Ask the group and discuss:
• What are some of the good things about drinking alcohol?
Discuss with the group some of the good things about alcohol and the social and cultural roles it plays in Australian
society. Alcohol is the most widely used drug in Australia – it has been consumed by 90% of the Australian population
over the age of 14.
Slide 17: What are some of the downsides to drinking alcohol?
Ask the group and discuss:
• What are some of the downsides to drinking alcohol?
Slides 18-19: The bad and the ugly
Discuss some of the negative effects of alcohol including:
Liver: Alcohol affects the body, including the liver, and can cause the following:
• Dehydration
• Change in body composition (e.g. weight gain from excess calories in alcohol and associated eating)
• Delayed injury recovery
• Poor judgement and decision making
Lover: Binge drinking may cause tension with partners, friends and family such as fights or arguments and saying
things that are later regretted. Texting or Facebooking when drunk can cause embarrassment, regret and annoyance
for young people.
Team mates can become disappointed and frustrated if fellow swimmers turn up to training or events hung-over as
it could affect their own chances in team events or jeopardise the Club’s reputation. An intoxicated person is also
vulnerable to losing their possessions such as their wallet, phone and keys and may also become a victim of assault.
Livelihood: Alcohol and illicit drug use can affect an athlete’s career and reputation. Sports people, even at non-professional levels, are targets for media attention and are of public interest. Any small incident can be blown out of
proportion or misinterpreted if ‘caught on film’. In the modern age of social media and smart phones it is important to
stress to participants that everything they do has the potential to become public. Negative media can lead to loss of
contracts, loss of sponsorship and tension with team mates.
Law: Athletes are not immune to the legal consequences of illicit drug use or inappropriate alcohol use. Anti-doping
controls exist under WADA and ASADA policies and athletes can be banned from competitions and fined as well as
face public scrutiny. If caught using illicit drugs, athletes can receive fines, cautions or even have to face court and
potentially be imprisoned, depending on the seriousness of the offence/s. Receiving a criminal record for a minor
drug offence can reduce opportunities for employment and international travel. Other consequences include loss of license if caught drink or drug driving, property damage charges, physical assault charges and sexual assault charges.
Regrettable sexual activity, alcohol poisoning (see below) and serious injury or death are also possible when using
alcohol or illicit drugs.
For further Information about alcohol poisoning click here:
http://darta.net.au/wordpress-content/uploads/2010/10/Factsheet-1.pdf
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Slides 20-22: Alcohol, drugs and sporting performance
Use these slides to pose the question to the group. Consider as prompts both short- and long-term use of drugs.
Ask the group (for example):
• “If you were to have three shots of vodka right now and attempt to swim a short course freestyle
event what would happen?”
• “What about if you started smoking a few cones (cannabis) each morning before training?”
• “How would going out for benders every weekend affect your training during the week?”
Presenting this information in terms of the effects on the brain, body, nutrition and sleep can be beneficial.
(See also Appendix 3: Additional information on illicit drugs).
Slide 23: Video – How does alcohol affect performance and recovery?
Slides 24-25: Strategies to help a mate
These eight comprehensive tips can be read aloud to the group.
Explain to the group:
• Young people are often scared of being reprimanded or getting into trouble if something goes awry in
an alcohol or other drug setting.
• Stress that getting medical help is more important than being reprimanded. According to NSW
Ambulance service (personal communication 2012), an ambulance will not call police where illicit
drugs are involved unless staff feel threatened or somebody dies.
• Young people should be encouraged to keep an eye on each other, have a plan to get home safely and
extra money if needed to do so.
• Avoid giving an intoxicated person other drugs or leaving them alone in a shower.
• Cooperating with medical staff and providing them with information about what a friend has taken/
consumed is in a young person’s best interest.
Slide 26: Recovery position
Activity: Overdose Role-play
Ask for two volunteers. One person needs to play someone ‘passed out drunk’ and the other is the ‘first aider’. Your
role is to assist the first aider to manoeuvre the drunken person into the recovery position – ensure that you check for
an open airway and locked, supported body position. The recovery position is useful to know for a variety of first aid
situations, not just for alcohol-related incidents.
Slide 27: When to call an ambulance
Discuss that medical help should always be sought if there is concern for someone’s health or safety.
Slides 28-30: What did you learn today? – summary slides
Ask the group:
• To think of a couple of new things they have learnt during the presentation and call upon individuals
to answer - this will give you an idea as a facilitator of what the group has retained and viewed as
important
• Move on to the next slide as a general summary
• Go through the answers to the initial Alcohol and Drugs in Sport Quiz if you did the paper version with
the group (see Appendix 2 - Alcohol and Drug Quiz answers)
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Slide 31: Getting help
Explain to the group that:
• The overarching aim of the Club Champions and IDiS programs is to support athlete wellbeing rather than being about punishment
• Help is available within the club by speaking to coaches, managers or whomever a swimmer feels
comfortable with
• Athletes can also get help externally through local and national youth-based or alcohol and other
drug-based organisations, often free and confidential
Slide 32: Closing activity: Set the scene (20 minutes)
1. Break into groups of three-five people depending on the number of participants in the workshop
2. Give each group a ‘set the scene’ sheet and encourage them to come up with a fictional scenario involving binge
drinking or illicit drugs. They can choose the location, reason, time, persons, and possible situations/outcomes in both
the short and long term. Scenarios may be realistic, humorous or as dramatic as they wish
3. Participants should use the worksheet provided and discuss all of the negative possibilities associated with this
scenario and then select one person as a spokesperson to present back to the larger group
4. Allow about 10 minutes for brainstorming then give each group approximately three minutes to present their
scenario. Worksheets and facilitation tips are included in Appendix 5 – Setting the scene
Slide 33: Participant feedback
Thank participants for coming along to the session and ask them if they have any further questions. Encourage them
to fill in the feedback form which can be found in Appendix 6 – Participant Feedback Sheet.
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Appendix 1: Alcohol and Other Drugs in Sport Quiz
Please circle or mark the response you think best matches each statement. If you are not sure please select UNSURE.
Hold on to this page and your trainer will give you the answers at the end of today’s session.
1. Vomiting gets rid of alcohol from your system and reduces your blood alcohol content
TRUEFALSEUNSURE
2. Mixing alcohol with energy drinks keeps you more sober and alert
TRUEFALSEUNSURE
3. Women’s bodies are proportionally made up of more fat and less muscle than men’s
TRUEFALSEUNSURE
4. Athletes can lose sponsorships and contracts if caught using illicit drugs or using alcohol irresponsibly
TRUEFALSEUNSURE
5. Being hung-over decreases aerobic performance
TRUEFALSEUNSURE
6. Cannabis is the most common drug used for drink spiking
TRUEFALSEUNSURE
7. All over the counter medications such as Panadol are ok to take with alcohol, but prescription drugs should never
be used while drinking
TRUEFALSEUNSURE
8. Wine/champagne contains more alcohol by volume than beer
TRUEFALSEUNSURE
9. Ambulance officers always call police when illegal drugs are involved
TRUEFALSEUNSURE
10. Alcohol increases the ability to feel pain
TRUEFALSEUNSURE
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Appendix 2: Answers to Alcohol and Other Drugs in Sport Quiz (slide 3)
1. Vomiting gets rid of alcohol from your system and reduces your blood alcohol content
False. Most alcohol is processed through the liver and leaves the body in the urine, which takes around 60-90 minutes per standard drink. Vomiting will not get rid of alcohol from the bloodstream, the only way to sober up is time.
2. Mixing Alcohol with energy drinks keeps you more sober and alert
False. People often feel more sober when mixing alcohol and energy drinks as the energy drinks can mask the
sedative effects of alcohol, which can lead to someone drinking more than they normally would. People who mix
these two drugs perform just as badly as those who are only consuming alcohol, on tasks of motor performance and
concentration.
3. Women’s bodies are proportionally made up of more fat and less muscle than men’s
True. This means women tend to have higher blood alcohol concentrations than men as alcohol does not absorb into
fatty tissue.
4. Athletes can lose sponsorships and contracts if caught using illicit drugs or using alcohol irresponsibly
True. There are many well publicised cases of athletes in a variety of sporting codes who have lost sponsorships due
to irresponsible alcohol or illegal drug use.
5. Being hung-over decreases aerobic performance
True. One particular study calculated this to be a reduction of 11.4%. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10840864 (Full text many not be available to all).
6. GHB is the most common drug used for drink spiking
False. Alcohol is used in the majority of cases rather than the perceived GHB, Rohypnol or Ketamine (although such
drugs may occasionally be used).
7. All over the counter medications such as Panadol are ok to take with alcohol, but prescription drugs should never
be used while drinking
False. The concurrent use of alcohol and medicines can be dangerous. The effectiveness of some medicines can be
increased or reduced by alcohol. Medicines can also increase the effects of alcohol in the body.
8. Wine/champagne contains more alcohol by volume than beer
True. Champagne and wine are usually about 11-12% alcohol per volume and beer about 3-5%.
9. Ambulance officers always call police when illegal drugs are involved
False. Generally speaking ambulance officers will not call police unless they feel threatened or if someone dies.
10. Alcohol increases the ability to feel pain
False. It decreases this ability to feel pain which can lead to risk of injury, or of making injuries worse.
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Appendix 3: Quick Alcohol and Drug Quiz - Answers (slide 4)
1. Vomiting gets rid of alcohol from your system and reduces your blood alcohol content
a. False. Most alcohol is processed through the liver and leaves the body in the urine, which takes around 60-90 minutes per standard drink. Vomiting will not get rid of alcohol from the bloodstream; the only way to sober up is time.
2. Mixing alcohol with energy drinks keeps you sober and alert
a. False. People often feel more sober when mixing alcohol and energy drinks as the energy drinks can mask the
sedative effects of alcohol, which can lead to someone drinking more than they normally would. People who mix
these two drugs perform just as badly as those who are only consuming alcohol on tasks of motor performance and
concentration.
3. Women’s bodies are proportionally made up of more fat and less muscle than men’s
a. True. This means women tend to have higher blood alcohol concentrations than men as alcohol does not absorb
into fatty tissue.
4. Athletes can lose sponsorships and contracts if caught using illicit drugs or using alcohol irresponsibly
a. True. There are many well publicised cases of athletes in a variety of sporting codes who have lost sponsorships
due to irresponsible alcohol or drug use.
5. Having five standard drinks or more in one session can impair your brain and body activities for up to
three days.
a. True. Alcohol intake negatively impacts on a variety of fine motor skills essential for successful sporting
performance including:
• Reaction time, accuracy and balance
• Hand-eye or foot-eye coordination
• Visual tracking and searching
• REM sleep – the deep sleep needed to recover from training
• Recovery – the body needs to refuel, rehydrate and repair itself after training
• Risk of sporting injuries – impulsive behaviours when drinking can lead to serious injury or make
existing injuries worse
• Recovery from injuries – alcohol increases blood flow to an injured area and limits quick recoveries
6. GHB is the most common drug used for drink spiking
a. False. Alcohol is used in the majority of cases rather than the perceived GHB, Rohypnol or Ketamine (although such
drugs may occasionally be used).
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Appendix 4 – Additional information about illicit drugs
Ecstasy
• Approximately 10% of the Australian population over the age of 14 have used ecstasy at some point in their lives
• Because its manufacture is illegal, other substances such as sugar, caffeine and potentially more harmful
chemicals are added as ‘cutting agents’ to decrease costs
• Dehydration is a risk when taking ecstasy as it is often taken in hot nightclub settings while sweating and
dancing. This can lead to headaches, nausea, and even passing out
• It is a stimulant drug that can prevent sleep and reduce appetite for up to a few days
• Street names include pills, pingers, xtc and disco biscuits
• It is associated with three phases — coming up (waiting for the drug to take full effect), plateau/peak phase (up to
4-6 hours where the user will have lots of energy and feel euphoric) and the ‘come-down’ (feeling restless,
lethargic and agitated and having trouble sleeping which can last up to a few days)
How does Ecstasy affect sporting performance?
Ecstasy can increase wakefulness and prevent sleep for up to a few days. It also decreases appetite and increases
dehydration. Combined, this can reduce energy levels and prevent optimal training and recovery.
Cocaine
• Cocaine, or coke as it is commonly known, is a stimulant and has a similar effect to amphetamines such as Speed
and Ice, but produces a more intense effect and shorter ‘high’ depending upon dosage
• Cocaine produces an intense ‘rush’ and users feel a sense of euphoria, alertness, sexual arousal,
and increased confidence
• Cocaine is relatively expensive compared to other illicit drugs and is short acting, therefore more money can be
spent than was intended
• It is particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol as this produces a substance in the body known as
Cocaethylene, which puts additional strain on the heart
• Crack cocaine is a crystallised form of the drug that when heated makes a crackling sound. A user inhales the
vapours produced
• Cocaine is often snorted which can lead to nasal and septum damage and transmission of blood borne viruses if
implements are shared
For further Information on cocaine click here:
http://www.drugs.health.gov.au/internet/drugs/publishing.nsf/content/cocaine
How does Cocaine affect sporting performance?
Reduced appetite and reduced ability to sleep will both have flow-on effects for training and competing. Cocaine has
some anaesthetic properties meaning a user is less likely to feel pain and can acquire an injury or exacerbate an
existing one.
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Amphetamines/methamphetamines
• Amphetamines and methamphetamines are classified as stimulants as they increase alertness and wakefulness.
Once consumed, amphetamines and methamphetamines convert into the same substance in the body
• Speed, Base and Ice are all stimulant drugs in increasing levels of purity or strength. Speed is approximately 10%
pure Amphetamine, Base is around 15-20% pure Amphetamine and Ice is approximately 80-90% pure
Amphetamine. Therefore Ice will have a much stronger effect on the user
• Users of highly potent stimulants such as Ice can feel invincible and put themselves in risky situations such as
walking in front of cars or becoming aggressive and getting into fights
• These drugs can increase libido and their propensity to reduce inhibitions can mean safe sex is less likely
to be practised
• Health promotion deterrent campaigns for these drugs often focus on aged faces of users with scabs or people
scratching at bugs under their skin (formication)
For further information on ice click here http://www.drugs.health.gov.au/internet/drugs/publishing.nsf/content/ice
For further information on speed click here
http://www.drugs.health.gov.au/internet/drugs/publishing.nsf/content/speed
How do Amphetamines affect sporting performance?
Similar to Ecstasy, stimulant-based drugs are dehydrating by nature and their associated activities. They prevent
sleep, reduce appetite and can increase the risk of injury due to altered perceptions and increased confidence.
Gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB)
• GHB (Gamma-hydroxybutyrate) is a depressant drug often popular in the dance and nightclub scene due to its
stimulating, euphoric and aphrodisiac qualities. Its manufacture is variable so each dose can be unpredictable in
potency and effects
• GHB is nicknamed Liquid Ecstasy although has no relation to Ecstasy. It is also referred to as Fantasy, Grievous
bodily harm, and the date rape drug as it is sometimes reportedly used in drink spiking situations
• GHB is chemical in flavour and can intoxicate quickly
• It is particularly dangerous when mixed with alcohol or other depressant drugs as this doubles the depressant
effects on the central nervous system
Click here for information from the Australian Drugs Foundation: http://www.druginfo.adf.org.au/drug-facts/ghb
How does GHB affect sporting performance?
GHB increases sleepiness and dizziness and decreases coordination, therefore it would not benefit athletic performance. Considering the environment it is often taken in; nightclubs or at dance events, a user could end up staying
awake longer than intended and experience interrupted sleep patterns. At higher doses, GHB can lead to vomiting,
sweating, hallucinations and blackouts.
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Hallucinogens
• Hallucinogens include substances such as Magic Mushrooms, LSD and Ketamine and can produce feelings of
trance-like states, excitability, euphoria, increased heart rate, insomnia, hallucinations and paranoia
• Ketamine has been used in medical and veterinary settings as a short-acting anaesthetic and pain killer. The
danger of using it recreationally is that someone may hurt themselves and not realise, thus causing injury or
making an existing injury worse
• People who use Ketamine can ‘fall into a k-hole’. The experience of being in a k-hole varies but generally involves
being socially detached, having hallucinations and experiencing a distorted sense of time and space
• Psilocybin is a chemical with hallucinogenic properties that is found in certain species of mushrooms colloquially
referred to as ‘magic mushrooms’. They typically contain less than 0.5% Psilocybin, as well as trace amounts of
Psilocin, another hallucinogenic substance. When consumed, Psilocybin is metabolised by the body into Psilocin
• LSD refers to Lysergic Acid Diethylamide and is one of the most potent mood and perception altering drugs.
Synthesised from Lysergic Acid, LSD is initially a clear or white crystalline substance. It is also odourless and
soluble in water. LSD is highly potent and only very small doses are required to produce a hallucinogenic effect
For further information on Hallucinogens click here: http://www.drugs.health.gov.au/internet/drugs/publishing.nsf/
content/other3
How do hallucinogens affect sporting performance?
Hallucinogens can induce fear and paranoia and altered perceptions of reality and therefore would not be beneficial
to sporting performance. During the time of intoxication, which for LSD can last up to 12 hours, an athlete would not
be eating and sleeping optimally which would have flow-on effect on training and performance.
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Appendix 4 – Summary information about the effects of alcohol and/or illicit drugs on sporting performance
Included below is some summary information on how both alcohol and/or illicit drugs can affect sporting performance.
References pertaining to the information below may be found above.
Sports performance
• Increase likelihood of ignoring injury warning signs e.g. pain (alcohol, cocaine)
• Suppress appetite, affecting energy levels and ability to recovery optimally (stimulant-based drugs)
• Increase appetite, affecting management of weight (cannabis, alcohol)
• Increase injury recovery time (alcohol, potentially other illicit drugs)
• Increase dehydration (alcohol, stimulant-based drugs)
• Decrease the likelihood of carrying out appropriate recovery strategies (all drugs)
• Chronic sleep problems (cannabis, stimulant-based drugs)
• Reduce sensitivity to pain, potentially exacerbating injury (alcohol, cocaine)
• Reduce ability to focus – poor sleep quality, moodiness, depression and anxiety (many drugs including alcohol)
• Decrease energy levels, feelings of lethargy or exhaustion (many drugs in hang over or comedown phase)
• Illicit drugs could also potentially benefit sporting performance by increasing short-term concentration, alertness
and reaction times. For example, Amphetamines such as Speed could benefit a swimmer mentally and physically
if the correct dose was taken at the right time. For this reason such drugs are banned within sports for ethical and
health reasons.
You may prefer to break down the effects of alcohol and other drugs on sporting performance into the following four
categories- brain, body, nutrition and sleep.
Brain
Psychomotor skills particularly affected by alcohol:
• Impaired reaction time
• Impaired hand-eye coordination
• Reduced focus and attention
• Reduced motivation
• Reduced accuracy
• Impaired balance
• Slower visual tracking and visual search
For a listing of current statistics and guidelines relating
to alcohol and other drugs in Australia please click here
http://ndsis.adca.org.au/drug_statistics.php
Body
Bodily functions particularly affected by alcohol:
• Reduced pain sensations
• Existing injuries exacerbated
• Reduced athletic performance by 11.4% if training with a hangover
• Decreased endurance
• Delayed recovery from injuries
• Slowed recovery from training
• Testosterone production affected
• Glycogen production in the liver affected
• Impeded production of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Nutrition
• Excessive high calorie food consumption – cannabis ‘munchies’, alcohol associated eating
• Deficiency in calorie consumption due to low appetite - unable to replenish glucose stores or provide the body
with an energy source for training – ecstasy or amphetamines
• Body composition changes leading to weight gain or loss
• Increased dehydration risk – stimulant drugs and alcohol
Sleep
•
•
•
Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep stage impeded
Regular sleep patterns interrupted - alcohol or stimulant drugs
Shallow and inefficient sleep patterns - cannabis and alcohol
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Appendix 5: Setting the scene activity
SET THE SCENE
Alcohol use + location, reason, time, persons, possible situations/outcomes...
WHAT COULD HAPPEN:
• Short-term
• Long-term
WHAT MIGHT BE THE CONSEQUENCES:
• For you
• For Swimming Australia/Your Club
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Appendix 5: Facilitator notes for Setting the scene activity
• Alcohol use: What are they drinking? How much have they had? Consider alcohol strength
e.g. wine versus spirits, have they eaten? Just had a training session? (dehydration)
• Location: Public venues mean the public are around (with camera phones), private venues mean people might be more relaxed and get more drunk than intended
• Time: End of season? Celebrating time? Time of day? Drinking in the sun?
• Reason: For example team selection/birthday/personal best (PB)/record/Christmas party
• Outcomes: Video/photo taken by public and posted online, relationship fight/break up, being sick/vomiting, massive
hangover, losing your wallet/phone (discuss privacy concerns e.g. having people’s phone numbers and names and
losing your phone), not remembering what you did, getting in a fight with a taxi driver, getting arrested for urinating
in public, calling your best friend a (insert name), arguing/fighting with a member of the public, driving home
intoxicated, unintended pregnancy or sexually transmitted infection, being hung over at training, missing squad
selection, breaking an arm and being unable to swim
• Consequences long term: Court appearances, sponsorship loss, losing team selection, injury, accidents, fighting with
friends, bad public image, financial loss, health concerns
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Appendix 6 - Participant Feedback Sheet
Please take a few moments to answer the following questions about this education session. Your feedback will help in
planning of future sessions. Thank you!
YOU DO NOT NEED TO PUT YOUR NAME ON THIS SHEET
Date of Attendance: ____________ Age______________
1. How useful/relevant was the information presented in this education session?
1
2
3
Not at all
4
5
6
Somewhat
7
Extremely
2. Did your knowledge increase as a result of attending this session?
1
2
3
Not at all
4
5
6
Somewhat
7
Extremely
3. How would you rate the overall presentation of this education session?
1
Very poor
2
3
4
5
Average
4. What’s the most important/relevant point you will take away today?
5. What aspect/s of this session did you like?
6. Is there anything you would change about this education session?
7. Are there any other comments/feedback?
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7
Very good