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Substance Abuse

Substance Abuse

Substance Use is Common Among Teens and Student Athletes: Administrators and Coaches Must Help to Educate, Administrate, & Support.

A  research report issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC) (2004) indicated that while the percentage of high school students that are engaging in risky health behaviors has decreased (i.e., engaging in sexual intercourse, physical fighting, and tobacco and alcohol use) there is still a large percentage of students that are partaking in these behaviors (see full report at http://www.cdc.gov/healthyyouth/yrbs/index.htm). Another report, issued by the Women’s Sports Foundation (2001), indicated that teen athletes were more likely than their non-athlete counterparts to engage in some risky health behaviors, such as the use of chewing and dipping tobacco, binge drinking, and drinking and driving. The findings of both of these studies affirm the need for coaches, athletic administrators, and parents to educate student athletes on the health risks involved and to also establish effective and appropriate policy, rules, and guidelines that target the prevention and reduction of substance use among student athletes. The following are brief descriptions and links to websites that may be helpful in your campaign against substance abuse.

Coaches, athletic administrators and parents need to educate student athletes about the health risks involved with the use of alcohol, tobacco and marijuana.  In addition, effective and appropriate policies that target the prevention and reduction of substance use among student athletes should be designed and implemented.  The following are links to resources that may be helpful in your campaign against substance abuse.

Smokeless Tobacco - The Facts

Website includes information from the National Spit Tobacco Education Program about the effects of using smokeless tobacco and oral cancer. Provides tips on how to quit using along with other resources for educating others about the risks of using smokeless tobacco.
http://www.nstep.org/

For Coaches and Parents - Information, Advice, and News on Drugs

Information on steroids and other illicit drugs, including the risks and signs of use, provided for coaches and parents. Offers suggestions for encouraging drug-free sport involvement, as well as information for coaches on how to deal with drug use amongst his or her athletes. http://www.theantidrug.com/get_involved/sports_index.asp.

Targeting Teen Drug Awareness

Websites offer facts on drugs and current news related to teens working to prevent drug use as well as real life substance abuse stories.  These websites also offer advice on how to deal with friends who are using drugs. Visit www.freevibe.com (National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign) and www.checkyourself.org (Partnership for a Drug-Free America).

Ohio Athletic Trainer's Association information document on Opiod use and abuse among high schol athletes

Against Drinking and Driving

Websites offer information about television programming, drinking and driving facts, and state laws, as well as resources for information about how to communicate with teens about alcohol-related issues.  Visit http://www.pbs.org/justone/justo5.htm (Public Broadcasting Service), http://www.jointogether.org/sa/issues/hot_issues/drinking/ (Join Together Online), and http://www.whatsdrivingyou.org/ (What’s Driving You?).

Find a Program to Help Combat Substance Use in Your School and Community

United States Department of Health and Human Services offers a descriptive listing of prevention programs that have been assessed for the effectiveness of reducing and preventing substance abuse in United States communities. You may search the program database by selecting the program content you are interested in, including those targeting student athletes (e.g., ATLAS), at www.modelprograms.samhsa.gov.  (Other related websites that may be of interest: http://store.samhsa.gov/home and www.nationalfamilies.org.)

Tobacco-Free Sports Playbook

The Tobacco-Free Sports Playbook is a free resource created by the CDC and designed to help school administrators, state and local health departments, certified athletic trainers, and coaches to reach out to young people with messages about the importance of choosing a healthy, active, and tobacco-free lifestyle.
You can download a copy from the CDC website at www.cdc.gov/tobacco or hard copies can be obtained by writing or calling the following: E-mail a request to: tobaccoinfo@cdc.gov or Toll-free hotline: (800) CDC-1311