Drug & Alcohol Detox in Los Angeles, California

Rehab For Professional Athletes

At Lumina Recovery, we understand the unique challenges athletes face around addiction and mental health issues. Our comprehensive addiction treatment programs are designed to provide specialized care and support to help athletes regain control of their lives and achieve lasting recovery.

Whether you’re a professional athlete or just starting out in your athletic career, our dedicated team is here to guide you and support you on your recovery journey.

Addiction can have profound physical, psychological, and career-related consequences. If you’re struggling with athletes addiction, our Los Angeles specialized programs are designed to help you tackle the complex issues that often underlie drug abuse in athletes.

What Drives Athletes to Use Drugs?

The use of drugs in sports is widely misunderstood, and the portrayals of drugs and professional athletes in the media can be misleading. Drug use among athletes can be complex.

Careers in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL are physically and psychologically demanding. Some athletes may turn to substances like alcohol to unwind, or benzodiazepines to manage anxiety. This can lead to problem use or addiction.

But it’s not just pro athletes that are at risk of substance abuse addiction. Drug abuse in high school sports and in college athletics also occurs.

Athletes that use drugs in sports may do so to manage chronic pain or improve their performance. But drugs and sports are a bad combination, especially when a substance impairs a person’s judgment or coordination.

While legal drug use among athletes is relatively common, intentionally misusing illicit drugs or alcohol can lead to drug addiction and alcohol addiction or chemical dependency.

Here are some common reasons for drug use in sports:

To improve athletic performance: The pressure to excel in sports can lead some athletes to experiment with performance-enhancing substances.
To manage chronic pain: Athletes that use drugs in sports are often grappling with chronic pain resulting from sports-related injuries. Some may resort to painkillers or other drugs to manage their discomfort. This can lead to athletes addiction.
To deal with stress and anxiety: The demands of competition, rigorous training schedules, and the spotlight can create immense stress and anxiety for athletes. Athletes that use drugs in sports may do so because it seems like a way to escape these pressures temporarily.
To treat physical injuries: Athletes may use drugs to self-medicate injuries, hoping to avoid time off the field or court. But intentionally abusing or misusing drugs—even prescription medications—can lead to athletes addiction.
Peer pressure: Just as in any social circle, athletes may face peer pressure to use drugs or alcohol, whether from teammates, coaches, or other individuals in their sports community.
To cope with retirement: The transition out of a sports career can be incredibly challenging. Athletes may turn to substances to fill the void left by the absence of their sport.

Understanding these motivations is crucial for tailoring our Los Angeles inpatient and outpatient programs to address the root causes of substance use in athletes and provide them with the tools they need to overcome addiction and mental health challenges.

The Link Between Chronic Pain and Addiction

A significant issue athletes often grapple with is the connection between chronic pain and addiction. Painkillers in sports are common to help athletes address pain from sports-related injuries. The desire to continue competing or performing can drive athletes to seek relief by any means necessary.

But opioid drugs and sports are a dangerous combination. Over time, continued substance abuse can lead to athletes addiction or physical dependence on substances.

At Lumina Recovery, we recognize the importance of addressing chronic pain in athletes as part of the recovery process. Our Los Angeles addiction treatment programs for professional athletes combine evidence-based therapies with effective pain management strategies.

We work closely with medical professionals to ensure that individuals receive the appropriate pain relief without resorting to harmful substances. By addressing both the physical and psychological aspects of athletes addiction and chronic pain, our programs help people move forward in their careers without substances.

Whether you’re a pro athlete in the NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL, or you play hockey, football, soccer, or baseball at the college or high school level, our team will develop a treatment plan that empowers you to regain control, so you can pursue your passion for sports in a healthier way.

Common Drugs Athletes Take

Athletes often face intense physical and psychological pressures. This can sometimes lead to drug abuse in athletes and misuse of different types of drugs in sports. Here are some commonly abused drugs among athletes:

Performance-Enhancing Drugs
Performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) are substances used to improve athletic performance by increasing strength, endurance, or other physical attributes. Some of the most misused PEDs include:

Anabolic Steroids: These synthetic derivatives of testosterone promote muscle growth and strength. Athletes misuse them to gain a competitive edge, but this can lead to serious health problems.
Androstenedione: Often referred to as “Andro,” this hormone precursor is converted into testosterone in the body and can enhance muscle development and performance.
Human Growth Hormone (HGH): HGH stimulates growth, cell reproduction, and regeneration. Athletes misuse it to gain muscle mass and recover more quickly from injuries.
Erythropoietin (EPO): EPO stimulates the production of red blood cells, increasing oxygen-carrying capacity. Cyclists and endurance athletes may misuse it to improve stamina.
Diuretics: These substances increase urine production and reduce water weight. Athletes may misuse them to make weight categories or hide the presence of other prohibited substances.

Recreational Drugs
Athletes may use recreational drugs to wind down after a stressful game or during social events. But recreational drugs and sports are a dangerous combination. When it comes to recreational drugs and professional athletes, some commonly misused substances include:

Alcohol: While alcohol is legal and widely accepted, excessive use can impair an athlete’s performance, coordination and judgment, and contribute to addiction and mental health issues.
Cocaine: This powerful stimulant drug can provide a temporary boost in energy and confidence. But cocaine is also very addictive and can lead to serious health consequences.
Marijuana: Some athletes may use marijuana for relaxation or pain relief, but it can impair cognitive function and reaction time, potentially compromising performance.

Stimulant Drugs
Stimulant drugs increase alertness, energy, and focus. Athletes may misuse these substances to gain a competitive advantage. Common stimulants include:

Amphetamines: These drugs can enhance alertness, concentration, and stamina, but they carry significant health risks and are often prohibited in sports.
Methamphetamine: Methamphetamine is a potent and highly addictive stimulant that can have severe health consequences when misused.
Prescription Stimulants: Athletes may misuse prescription stimulants like Adderall to enhance focus and energy. This can lead to addiction and legal issues.

Prescription Painkillers
Injuries are common in the sports world, and so are painkillers in sports. Athletes may misuse prescription painkillers to manage their pain, but these drugs can be highly addictive for some people. What starts as proper prescribed use can escalate into misuse and abuse.

Opioid painkillers like oxycodone and hydrocodone are among the most frequently abused and are common causes of athletes addiction and physical dependency. These drugs can cause serious health problems if not used as prescribed.

It’s essential for athletes addicted to painkillers to seek help from a rehab center experienced in the treatment of opioid addiction, like Lumina Recovery in Southern California.

Our Specialized Treatment Programs for Athletes

We know athletes have demanding careers to manage, and many have family obligations. That’s why we’ve created a range of addiction treatment programs in Los Angeles to accommodate busy schedules.

Lumina Recovery offers a range of addiction treatment programs for professional athletes at our rehab centers in Los Angeles. Our athletes addiction programs include:

Our Southern California addiction counselors and licensed therapists use a variety of research-backed behavioral therapies in the course of treatment.

With convenient inpatient locations in Los Angeles, Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Sherman Oaks, and Sun Valley, there’s a center near you. We also offer telehealth services for athletes addiction, so you can meet with our team from the comfort of home.

Why Choose Lumina Recovery

Lumina Recovery offers specialized treatment programs that address the unique needs of athletes that use drugs in sports. Our drug rehab for athletes is committed to helping you break free from the cycle of substance misuse and regain control of your life and career.

If you’re an athlete that uses drugs in sports and are worried about addiction or mental health issues, our Los Angeles treatment centers are ready to provide sports addiction help. Our drug rehab for athletes is designed to help you down the path to recovery without the need for performance-enhancing drugs.

Don’t wait—contact us for sports addiction help today. We’ll help you arrange a tour of your desired addiction treatment center in Los Angeles. Lumina Recovery also has several other facilities in the Greater Los Angeles area and partners with reputable outpatient treatment centers across Southern California.

Call Us Today – (877) 716-7515