How Common Is Substance Use Among Pro Soccer Players in Ghana?
Nearly half of Ghanaian professional footballers reported substance use, with caffeine most common and cannabis use relatively rare at under 3%.
Quick Facts
What This Study 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.
Key Numbers
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 They Did This
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).
Why This Research 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 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.
What This Study Doesn't 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.
Questions This Raises
- ?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?
Trust & Context
- Key Stat:
- 2.9% cannabis use among Ghanaian pro footballers
- Evidence Grade:
- Small cross-sectional study with convenience sampling from a single region, limiting generalizability.
- Study Age:
- 2026 study.
- Original Title:
- Substance Use in Sports: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Professional Footballers in Accra, Ghana.
- Published In:
- Health science reports, 9(2), e71828 (2026)
- Database ID:
- RTHC-08526
Evidence Hierarchy
A snapshot of a population at one point in time.
What do these levels mean? →Frequently Asked 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.
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Cite This Study
https://rethinkthc.com/research/RTHC-08526APA
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
MLA
Odei, Isaac, et al. "Substance Use in Sports: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Professional Footballers in Accra, Ghana.." Health science reports, 2026. https://doi.org/10.1002/hsr2.71828
RethinkTHC
RethinkTHC Research Database. "Substance Use in Sports: A Cross-Sectional Study Among Profe..." RTHC-08526. Retrieved from https://rethinkthc.com/research/odei-2026-substance-use-in-sports
Access the Original Study
Study data sourced from PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.
This study breakdown was produced by the RethinkTHC research team. We analyze and report published research findings without making health recommendations. All interpretations are based solely on the published abstract and study data.