Final answer:
Former athletes may not be surprised by drug addiction among their peers due to the pressures of sports, injuries, and psychological stress, which can lead to substance abuse as a means of coping with pain, loss of identity, or the absence of the professional sports environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concern about former athletes getting addicted to drugs is often linked to the pressures and challenges they experience during their professional careers. Extensive demands, both physical and mental, combined with the culture of performance enhancement, can lead to drug use, which sometimes continues into retirement. Professional athletes, like Jason Giambi and Alex Rodriguez, have admitted to using anabolic steroids, spotlighting the prevalence of performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) in sports. The use of such substances can be a gateway to further drug dependency post-retirement due to several factors.
Firstly, athletes may develop an addiction to substances like opioids while attempting to manage pain or recover from injuries. Once their career ends, they might continue to use drugs to cope with pain or to fill the void left by the loss of the adrenaline and reward systems active in professional sports. Secondly, the psychological stress from transitioning to post-athletic life can be significant, potentially leading to substance abuse as a way of coping. Lastly, retired athletes might struggle with identity issues, losing the fame and structure previously provided by their sport, which can contribute to addiction.
It's important to note that any such use or addiction is nuanced and involves various personal and environmental factors.