Drunk, drowsy, doped: skiers' and snowboarders' injury risk perceptions regarding alcohol, fatigue and recreational drug use

Abstract

The objective was to investigate perceptions of snowfield resort visitors about injury risk regarding alcohol, fatigue and recreational drug use. Visitors to a resort village in a large Australian snowfield region completed a brief survey about fatigue, alcohol and recreational drug use and injury risk perception. Participants stated their ability to ski or snowboard and drive safely following a lack of sleep, alcohol and recreational drug use. Intoxicated snowfield resort visitors were compared with non-intoxicated visitors. Safety beliefs across snow sport and transport were compared. Participants reported that they generally slept less than usual and 30% reported both drinking alcohol and using drugs more than usual while visiting the snowfields. Participants perceived driving as a greater injury risk than skiing/snowboarding (p < 0.001). Fatigue was perceived as a relatively weak injury risk factor, particularly whilst skiing and snowboarding. Awareness needs to be raised among snowfield resort visitors about the contribution of alcohol, fatigue and recreational drug use to snow sport and transport-related injury risk.

Keywords:

• Injury risk perception
• Skiers and snowboarders
• Alcohol
• Fatigue
• Recreational drug use

Acknowledgements

This study was funded by Greater Southern Area Health Service through a grant provided by the Centre for Drug and Alcohol, NSW Health. Shauna Sherker was initially supported by an NHMRC Capacity Building Grant in Population Health, then by an NHMRC Public Health Research Fellowship. Caroline Finch was supported by an NHMRC Principal Research Fellowship. The authors would like to thank Josephine Batten and Rosemary White of the Alcohol and Drug Service, Greater Southern Area Health, for their invaluable assistance with participant recruitment and breath testing. Ann Williamson provided valuable comment on the manuscript.