Effective steroid, drug and alcohol prevention programs for high school athletes.

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1 Recapturing the Healthy Mission of Sport Effective steroid, drug and alcohol prevention programs for high school athletes.

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3 ATLAS and ATHENA are gender-specific programs that are proven to reduce health-harming behaviors in male and female high school athletes. These award-winning programs open relevant lines of communication between teammates, and distinguish ATLAS and ATHENA from related programs that incorporate adult lectures and scare tactics, which have proven to be ineffective. With a unique, interactive approach, ATLAS reduces the use of anabolic steroids, sports supplements, alcohol and other illicit drugs among male high school athletes, while ATHENA reduces disordered eating and body-shaping drug use in female high school athletes. NFL Partnership, 2007 This year, the National Football League Youth Football Fund and eight NFL teams are partnering with Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) to implement the programs in eight sites. This spring, 22 schools were chosen to participate in the program with more to be selected this summer. The NFL ATLAS & ATHENA Schools program consists of one full day of training for coaches and selected student athlete leaders to learn how to implement the ATLAS and ATHENA programs. During the school year, coaches and student athlete squad leaders, will implement the programs with their sport teams once per week for 45 minutes as part of their regular practice activities. This spring, 120 coaches, 40 school administrators and 450 student leaders attended the trainings. The NFL teams assisted with school selection, hosted the trainings and will be involved in overseeing this program throughout the school year. NFL Team Leaders in 2007 Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, St. Louis Rams, San Diego Chargers, San Francisco 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins

4 ATLAS: Results Making a Difference New anabolic steroid use decreased 50% Drugs, alcohol and steroids have entered the world of high school sports, with use at an alarming rate. High schools around the nation have an unprecedented opportunity to turn the tide and make a difference in the lives of today s high school athletes. Together with the NFL Youth Football Fund and eight NFL Teams, the Center for Health Promotion at OHSU is making a major impact on this serious problem. New alcohol and illicit drug use decreased 50% Occurrences of drinking & driving declined 24% Reduced use of performance enhancing supplements Improved nutrition and exercise behaviors Students believed they were better athletes Drug Use in Youth Sport ATHENA: Results Less use of athletic enhancing substances (steroids, amphetamines, supplements) Less new and ongoing use of diet pills Less riding in a car with a drinking driver Less new sexual activity Improved nutrition behaviors Fewer injuries One to three years following graduation: improved nutrition behaviors and reduced use of alcohol, marijuana and diet pills More than half of high school students participate in school sports. Young athletes are just as likely to use illicit drugs as non-athletes, and they are more likely to use more performance enhancing drugs, including anabolic steroids. Importantly, most patterns of drug use in athletes are established by the end of high school. Preventing a teenager s drug use can reduce the threat of abuse throughout one s lifetime. The risk factors and pressures to use drugs are different among young men and women. A young male athlete s drug use is related to a desire for a large muscular body, peer use, role model examples and the media. A young female athlete s drug use is linked to disordered eating practices, depression and low self-esteem. These differences are reasons why effective drug and alcohol prevention must be gender specific.

5 Scare tactics do not prevent substance use. In fact, stressing only the harmful effects of steroids is counterproductive. It can bring more attention and even create a greater desire to use these drugs. Drug testing young athletes is, as yet, an unproven deterrent. An Effective Solution is Needed How ATLAS & ATHENA work During the sport season, ATLAS and ATHENA are incorporated into the usual team activities. Each 45-minute session (10 sessions for ATLAS and 8 sessions for ATHENA) is interactive and includes educational games, role-play and mock public service campaigns. The programs focus on the here and now, rather than the long-term harmful effects of substance use. Athletes learn how to achieve their goals using state-of-the-art sports nutrition and strength training, and develop skills to avoid adopting unhealthy behaviors. Evidence-based Education: ATLAS & ATHENA ATLAS and ATHENA are health promotion and substance abuse prevention programs for high school athletic teams. They are easy to implement and integrate into a sport team s usual practice sessions. ATLAS reduces male adolescent athletes use of anabolic steroids, sport supplements, alcohol and illicit drugs. ATHENA prevents substance abuse, disordered eating, diet pill use and other body shaping drug intake by young female athletes. Both programs promote healthy nutrition while increasing communication and decision-making skills. 100% natural athlete NFL team-branded t-shirts provided for all student-athletes and coaches. Evaluated in the Northwest, Distributed Nationwide Funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, ATLAS and ATHENA program evaluations took place in 49 schools and 12 cities in Oregon and southwestern Washington with more than 4,000 student athlete participants. At this time, ATLAS and ATHENA have been implemented in 31 states and Puerto Rico.

6 Campaigns and Website Ongoing Support All high school sport teams from each of the NFL ATLAS & ATHENA Schools will create public service announcements during the ATLAS and ATHENA sessions. These PSAs or campaigns will consist of skits, posters, songs and more. They will offer students a chance to teach their peers about the effects of steroids, importance of sports nutrition for athletic performance, and other important health-related messages. Selected PSAs from each school will go on to the Playoffs between the other schools in the region. The Playoffs will continue, with competition between Conference Divisions, leading to the NFL School Bowl, with the AFC Champion vs. the NFC Champion. ATLAS and ATHENA trainers will visit each NFL ATLAS & ATHENA School and continue to build relationships with school administrators throughout the year. Players from the NFL Teams will meet with students and support their efforts for implementing the programs during the season. Student-athlete and coach evaluations will be collected as well. The NFL Youth Football Fund, NFL Teams, OHSU and ATLAS and ATHENA staff are excited to offer this unique opportunity to 40 high schools, 800 coaches and 20,000 student athletes across the country. Other Support ATLAS and ATHENA were tested in rigorous research trials with over $7.5 million in funding from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). NIDA supports most of the world s research on the health aspects of drug abuse and addiction, and ensures the rapid dissemination of research information to inform policy and improve practice. In 2006, Sports Illustrated gave ATLAS and ATHENA the Sports Illustrated Champion Award for excellence in the arena of youth sports.

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8 Contact Information: ATLAS & ATHENA Programs Center for Health Promotion Research Oregon Health & Science University 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, CR110 Portland, OR Linn Goldberg, M.D. Professor of Medicine Head, Division of Health Promotion and Sports Medicine Melissa Durham, MPH Director of Communications Clare Graff Publicity Manager National Football League