UPDATE: This survey is not available anymore as they are moving on the next phase of their research. We will update you when the results are in. 

A while back we conducted a survey about marijuana usage among climbers and whether or not people consider it a performance enhanching drug. About 1,500 of you filled out the survey (thank you!), and that survey garnered some attention recently by a professor who wants to look more deeply into this topic. Before I tell you about that, here is a summary of our findings from the original survey:

Summary of Original Survey

• 72% of the respondents have been climbing between 1-8 years.
• 75% climb or train 2-4 days a week.
• 65% never mix climbing or training with cannabis.
• 37% are not bothered being around those who are using marijuana.
• 43% feel their comfort depends on the people who are high and the setting they are in.
• 46% responded that feeling comfortable being belayed by someone who is high depends on the person and setting.
• 6% are fine with high belayers.
• 47% are not comfortable with high belayers.

You can see all of the results and a discussion of the topic on this page: www.trainingbeta.com/marijuana-and-climbing/

New Survey by the University of Nevada at Reno

David Fiore is a physician and a professor of Family and Community Medicine at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. He was curious about the same things we were when we conducted our survey, and he wants to take our research a little further and write a thorough scientific article on the topic. He and his team have created a new survey and they really need your help. It’s about marijuana, alcohol, hallucinogens, and stimulants. If you have 5-7 minutes to spare, please take this survey and tell your climber friends about it.  

This survey is pertinent to climbers of all abilities and experience levels, whether or not you actually use drugs or alcohol in any way. The questions are about whether or not they help, hinder, or do nothing for climbing performance.

Professor Fiore summarized this new research by saying this: 

Rock climbing is one of the fastest growing outdoor sports and is particularly popular among young adults. At the same time, the legalization of marijuana has spread, especially in the western United States. These factors, combined with the long history of rock climbing being a “counter culture” sport has led to a perceived high use of marijuana and other drugs amongst rock climbers. We, at the University of Nevada, Reno, School of Medicine decided it’s high time to find out if this is really true. That’s why we’re doing this study!