Substance Use In The MLB

Major league baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization. As the highest level of organized baseball in North America, it consists of 30 teams. 

Like other professional athletes, MLB players face a high risk of substance abuse and addiction. The MLB enforces a strict anti-drug policy to reduce this risk and keep players healthy. 

Substance Use In The MLB

Throughout the MLB’s history, a variety of players have battled drug use and addiction, including:

• Miguel Cabrera, who played for the Florida Marlins and Detroit Tigers
• Mike Cameron, who played for the Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Seattle Mariners, New York Mets, San Diego Padres, Milwaukee Brewers, Boston Red Sox, and Florida Marlins
• Dale Berra, who played for the Houston Astros, New York Yankees, and Pittsburgh Pirates
• Ken Caminiti, who played for the Houston Astros, San Diego Padres, Texas Rangers, and Atlanta Braves 
• Enos Cabell, who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants, and Baltimore Orioles
• Josh Hamilton, who played for the Los Angeles, Texas Rangers, and Cincinnati Reds
• Alex Rodriguez, who played for the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and New York Yankees 
• Darryl Strawberry, who played for the New York Mets, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and New York Yankees

Like the rest of the population, major league baseball players may misuse many different types of drugs. However, the drugs most commonly misused in the MLB include opioids, stimulants, and steroids.

Opioids

Opioids are powerful pain relievers. They include the illegal drug heroin as well as prescription drugs like oxycodone (Oxycontin), hydrocodone (Vicodin), and fentanyl. All opioids reduce pain by attaching to opioid receptors throughout the body. They also cause relaxation and euphoria (intense joy), which is why they’re highly addictive. 

Many MLB players use opioids to treat pain from injuries sustained on the field. While some players use the drugs as prescribed by a doctor, others misuse them. People who misuse opioids face an extremely high risk of addiction and life-threatening overdose. 

Stimulants

Stimulants are substances that speed up your central nervous system, making you feel energized, focused, and alert. Common stimulants include:

• prescription drugs like Adderall (amphetamine/dextroamphetamine) and Ritalin (methylphenidate)
• cocaine
• methamphetamine

MLB players often misuse stimulants to improve their energy and performance on the field. This behavior poses serious risks, including addiction, heart attack, and stroke. 

Performance-Enhancing Drugs

Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are substances that give baseball players an unfair advantage when training and playing. 

The most common PEDs used by MLB players are anabolic steroids and human growth hormones. These drugs may boost athletic performance by increasing muscle mass and strength. They can also cause serious health problems, including:

• high blood pressure
• diabetes
• issues with the heart and blood flow
• muscle pain or weakness

In addition, steroid use has been linked with heart attack, stroke, liver tumors, depression, anger, violence, and addiction. People who inject PEDs also face a high risk of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis. 

Risk Factors

Compared to the average person, MLB players face unique risk factors that make them more likely to develop substance use disorder (addiction). These factors include:

Accessibility

The average salary for MLB players is $4.9 million. That means most players have easy access to a variety of expensive drugs. This access significantly increases their risk of drug abuse and addiction. 

Stress

MLB players face a great amount of stressors, including:

• hectic schedules
• regular, intense workouts
• frequent traveling

These stressors can take a serious toll on a player’s physical and mental health. They may even lead to mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. To self-medicate these issues, some players turn to drugs.

Financial Incentive

While MLB players make a significant amount of money, they must work hard to maintain their performance and earnings. That’s why many players misuse opioids to mask pain or steroids to boost athleticism.

Consequences Of Substance Misuse

MLB players who struggle with drug use and addiction face serious consequences and risks, including:

• arrest
• suspension
• serious health problems
• overdose

Some MLB overdoses have been fatal. Most recently, in 2019, Los Angeles Angels all-star pitcher Tyler Skaggs died of an overdose involving fentanyl-laced oxycodone and alcohol.

Prevention

To fight drug abuse and addiction, the MLB has adopted an anti-drug policy known as the Join Drug Prevention and Treatment Program. Under this policy, no player may use, possess, sell, or distribute the following drugs:

• drugs of abuse, such as synthetic cannabinoids, cocaine, LSD, opioids, amphetamines, “bath salts,” GBH, and phencyclidine (PCP)
• performance-enhancing drugs, including steroids, growth factors, and hormone modulators
• stimulants

The policy also introduced a drug testing program. At the start of each spring training session, each player gets tested for the above drugs. Players who test positive are evaluated by the MLB’s joint drug treatment board. 

Depending on the drug and number of offenses, a player may face mandatory treatment, fines, suspensions, or even a lifetime ban from the MLB.

In addition, all players must participate in mandatory educational programs on the dangers of substance misuse and addiction.

If you or someone you love struggles with drug use, please reach out to an Ark Behavioral Health specialist. Our inpatient and outpatient treatment programs offer medical detox, mental health counseling, and other evidence-based services to help you or your loved one stay sober.