The use of analgesics by this population is alarming. Almost half of players had taken a painkiller in the preceding month, with more than 1/3 of players using 1–5 painkillers and 1/20 using more than 10 in the preceding month. More than 1/3 of players had taken a painkiller just before playing a game at least once before. Footballers currently experiencing pain or having a current injury were almost three times more likely than those not experiencing pain, to use painkillers during the preceding month