A new study from the University of Greenwich, led by Dr. Martha Newson, published in the Journal of Sport and Social Issues, surveyed over 2,500 fans across major sports and found that drug-taking was significantly more common among US (22.9%) than UK (6.5%) respondents. In the UK alcohol dominated matchday culture, compared to the US which may still have a prohibition legacy and where many fans have to drive to games rather than rely on public transport.
Key Findings:
- Prevalence: 2 in 10 US fans admitted to using drugs at games in the past year; nearly 8 in 10 had witnessed others. In the UK, fewer than 1 in 10 admitted use, but 6 in 10 had witnessed it.
- By substance: Cannabis and cocaine were most common in both countries. Cannabis was far more prevalent in the US, likely linked to legalization.
- By sport: In the US, rates of drug use were similar across sports (Baseball 22.3%, Basketball 23.9%, American Football 20.4%, Ice Hockey 25.1%). In the UK, association football (8.9%) and rugby (8.3%) fans reported significantly higher rates than cricket fans (2.2%). Cocaine use among UK soccer and rugby fans (4%) was well above the national average (2%).
- Fan bonding & culture: In the UK, fans with strong bonds to their favourite team where more likely to report drug use, yet at the same time team bonding was also associated with support for harsher sanctions against drug use at games. In the US, team bonds were unrelated to drug use, and support for sanctions varied. Dr Newson suggests; “In the UK, this may reflect a carnivalesque sporting culture where everyday behaviour gets temporarily suspended– but as with any carnival, the rules are reinforced ever more strongly once the festivities end; harsh sanctions relate to what these highly bonded individuals view to be best for the group in terms of reputation and legalities as part of a wider societal context”.
- Motivations: Across both countries, recreational motives (“to have fun with friends”) dominate — with some evidence for ‘functional cocaine use’ among UK football fans to prolong euphoria and offset alcohol side effects.
- Locations: In the US, the most common location where fans noticed drugs was in the streets around the stadium (62.7%). In the UK, the most common locations were bathrooms (54.2%). Over 30% of fans in both countries also observed drug use in the stand and on transport before the game.
Why It Matters:
With millions attending live games annually, the findings have implications for public health and fan welfare:
- Sports events draw millions of fans each year, making stadiums a key site for public health and safety.
- Tackling drug use effectively means different approaches for different cultures — what works in the US may fail in the UK.
Dr Newson says, “Clubs and security forces that work with fans, not against them, are likely to find better solutions. Banning orders that exclude people, without understanding root causes, are unlikely to promote healthy attitudes toward drug use. Instead, awareness campaigns and safer stadium practices, such as including drug testing like we find in some festival spaces, would benefit fan communities”
“If we want to change behaviours in the stands, we need fans on board”, says co-author, Dr Linus Peitz. “When the majority of a fanbase supports healthier norms and agrees on ways to address drugs in stadiums, the whole culture can shift. Harnessing that collective power can be more effective than top-down rules that risk alienating supporters.
The study was supported by a UKRI grant awarded to Dr. Newson.
Study Methodology:
Online survey of 2,556 fans across major sports in the US (football, baseball, basketball, ice hockey) and UK (soccer, rugby, cricket), assessing prevalence, contexts, motivations, and cultural interpretations of drug use at live events.
Full paper available here
