How Common Is Substance Use Among Pro Soccer Players in Ghana? | Research

The takeaway

Nearly half of Ghanaian professional footballers reported substance use, with caffeine most common and cannabis use relatively rare at under 3%.

Sports medicine professionals, researchers studying substance use in athletics, and anyone interested in cannabis use among athletes.

2.9% cannabis use among Ghanaian pro footballers

What the researchers found

Among 139 professional footballers in Ghana, overall substance use prevalence was 44.6%. Caffeine was most common (30.2%), followed by alcohol (15.8%), cannabis (2.9%), and tobacco (2.2%). Those with longer tenure at their current club had lower odds of substance use.

Why it matters

This is rare data on substance use patterns among professional athletes in sub-Saharan Africa. The low cannabis use among elite athletes contrasts with higher rates often reported in general populations.

The numbers in context

Substance use prevalence: caffeine 30.2%, alcohol 15.8%, cannabis 2.9%, tobacco 2.2%. Mean CUDIT-R score was 6.3 (low-risk). Each additional year at a club was associated with 19% lower odds of substance use (OR = 0.81).

How the study worked

Cross-sectional survey of 139 professional footballers from nine Ghana Premier League and Division One League teams using validated screening tools (AUDIT, CUDIT-R, FTND).

What this study cannot tell us

Small sample (139 players) from one region of Ghana using convenience sampling. Self-report may underestimate use due to anti-doping concerns. Only male athletes were included.

How to read the evidence

Small cross-sectional study with convenience sampling from a single region, limiting generalizability.

When this study was published

2026 study.

The bigger picture

Pleasure and recreation were the most common reasons for alcohol, cannabis, and tobacco use, while caffeine was used primarily for energy. Knowledge of performance-enhancing drugs was nearly nonexistent (2.2%), suggesting anti-doping education gaps.

Questions still open

Would anonymous testing reveal higher rates than self-report? How do these rates compare to professional athletes in leagues where cannabis policies are more permissive?

Common questions

Why was cannabis use so low among these athletes?

Cannabis remains illegal in Ghana, and professional athletes face anti-doping regulations. The combination of legal and career consequences likely suppresses use.

What was the most used substance?

Caffeine at 30.2%, primarily used for energy enhancement during training and competition.

Read the original research

Substance Use in Sports: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Professional Footballers in Accra, Ghana.

Health science reports, 9(2), e71828

View on PubMed ↗Publisher’s paper ↗

Citation

Odei, Isaac; Essuman, Yaw Akye; Ofori-Atta, Angela Lamensdorf. (2026). Substance Use in Sports: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Professional Footballers in Accra, Ghana.. Health science reports, 9(2), e71828. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71828