Alcohol and UK recreational divers: consumption and attitudes.

INTRODUCTION: Scuba diving demands information processing, recall, reasoning, decision making and the ability to take control of situations under different scenarios. Anecdotal evidence suggests that some divers consume alcohol to excess around the time of a dive. This study investigates alcohol consumption and attitudes to alcohol in United Kingdom (UK) recreational divers. METHODS: A questionnaire addressing diving demographics, general health, type and frequency of alcohol consumption, and attitudes to drinking alcohol around the time of diving was available for anonymous completion online between September 2010 and January 2011. RESULTS: Records from 818 divers were analysed. Older divers were more likely to exceed the weekly alcohol units recommended by the UK government compared to younger divers (P < 0.001), but binge drinking was associated with younger divers (P = 0.014). Diving when considering themselves unfit to drive a car was reported by 151 (18.5%) respondents and 187 (22.9%) had witnessed a diving incident which they felt was attributable to alcohol. Only 313 (38.3%) respondents reported a responsible attitude to alcohol by their dive clubs both under normal circumstances and whilst on a dive trip. CONCLUSION: Some divers undertook diving activities when potentially over the legal limit to drive a car and demonstrated a possible lack of understanding of the effects of alcohol beyond dehydration. Divers considered club attitudes to drinking and diving to be less responsible when on a diving trip. Some divers took a more responsible attitude to alcohol consumption having witnessed a diving incident which was potentially related to alcohol.

The use of drugs by UK recreational divers: illicit drugs.

AIMS: Anecdotal observations suggest the use of illicit drugs takes place amongst recreational divers but, to date, there has been little open debate within the diving community concerning possible prevalence. This study investigated the prevalence and type of illicit drugs used by recreational divers in the United Kingdom (UK). METHODS: Anonymous questionnaires were circulated via UK dive clubs, dive schools, dive shows and conferences. Questions incorporated diver and diving demographics and general health, which included anxiety, depression and panic attacks, alcohol use, smoking and illicit drug use since learning to dive and closest time to a dive. Questions pertaining to over-the-counter and prescription drug use were also asked. RESULTS: 479 divers responded (66% males and 34% females) in the age range 16 to 59 years. Of the respondents, 22% had used one or more illicit drug since learning to dive, reporting benzodiazepines, amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, LSD, cannabis, heroin, and 'magic mushrooms'. Illicit drugs had been used by 3.5% of respondents in the last 12 months, and 3% in the last month. Cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy use was reported within 6 hours of a dive. Logistic regression confirmed a relationship between illicit drug use and depression (P = 0.014), and also between illicit drug use and anxiety (P = 0.024). CONCLUSION: These data support anecdotal reports that recreational divers use a range of illicit drugs. The significant relationship between illicit drug use and depression and anxiety supports the literature in non-diving populations.

The use of drugs by UK recreational divers: prescribed and over-the-counter medications.

INTRODUCTION: Various prescribed and over-the-counter medications may theoretically be incompatible with the diving environment. Anecdotally, it is known divers regularly take medications around the time of their diving activities for different health conditions, possibly ignoring the recommendations not to do so. As part of a diversion in a study of illicit drug use in sport divers, secondary data regarding the use of prescribed and over-the-counter medications were gathered. AIMS: The aim of presenting these data is to attempt to evaluate and promote debate surrounding the fitness of some divers to participate in the sport and the potential problems medication may cause whilst diving. METHODS: Anonymous questionnaires addressing diving demographics, general health, alcohol, smoking, illicit drugs, prescribed and over-the-counter medications were circulated via United Kingdom dive clubs, schools, dive shows and conferences. Divers were asked if they were currently taking medication prescribed by a physician, if they had ever taken any over-the-counter drugs within six hours before a dive, and to give details. Questions were fixed-option and free-format. RESULTS: A response rate of 26% provided 531 records (68% male, 32% female) for analysis. Over-the-counter medication was used by 303 (57%) of the respondents 6 hours or less before diving. Analgesics were the most commonly reported (180/303), with the use of decongestants (132/303) the next most regularly reported. Prescribed medications were used by 23% of respondents, with 10% reporting the use of cardiovascular drugs. The majority of the cardiovascular medication was for primary disease prevention; however, drugs only used in the treatment of symptomatic cardiovascular disease were reported, indicating individuals were diving with medical conditions recommended not compatible with diving. Other medication reported would also suggest liaison with a diving physician should have been undertaken prior to diving. CONCLUSION: Although these data were diversionary, secondary and therefore open to criticism, the range of prescribed medications reported in this study was broad and suggested a need for further investigation regarding medication use and fitness to dive.