A study involving about 13,000 teenagers has revealed that male high school athletes are more likely to become binge drinkers and to get into physical fights.

The researchers also found that boys in team sports are less likely to be depressed or to smoke cigarettes. Female athletes were less likely to smoke or use marijuana.

This study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Public Health Association.

Labels: athletics, binge drinking, depression

In an aftermath of an academic year during which students committed 57 in-school drug- or alcohol-related violations occurred, Oregon's Lincoln County School District has announced the adoption of a new program that may result in financial penalties the parents of student-athletes who fall afoul of school rules.

A June 30 article by Larry Coonrod of the South Lincoln County News provided a look at the district's contract with the Life Of an Athlete (LOA) program:

Instead of just signing a permission slip for their students to participate in athletics, LOA requires parents to attend a mandatory meeting on the program before signing a contract acknowledging their understanding.

Students who violate the student code of ethics will be required to meet with a substance abuse evaluator at the family's expense, meet with law enforcement officials, and write a letter of apology. ...

Wendy Rudy, the LOA coordinator, said the program has a strong educational component, and is more than just negative consequences for violations.

"It addresses chemical health," she said. "What students don't know is that one night of binge drinking destroys 14 days of training. That's something for them to think about, all that work training can be gone in a night."

The County News article also noted that a recent survey of Oregon youth found that 25 percent admitted to past-month marijuana use, and 45 percent said they had consumed alcohol during the same time period.

Labels: alcohol_abuse, athletics, drug use, students

In Dick Butkus' nine-year, Hall of Fame career in the NFL, the famously ferocious linebacker never took a single dose of steroids. Now, he's using his anti-steroid track record to raise awareness about the dangers the drugs pose to teenagers.

"He's the driving force behind a new program called 'I Play Clean.org,' and he's touring the country, educating kids, challenging them to stay off steroids."

The website includes facts about steroid use, nutrition and training tips, as well as a place where student athletes can pledge to play clean. An estimated 500,000 teenagers are believed to have used anabolic steroids at least once. Source: CBS

Labels: athletics, steriods

College students who exercise regularly and strenuously are more likely to use drugs and alcohol. However, they are less likely to smoke, according to a new study published in the Journal of American College Health.

Researchers in northeast Florida studied 491 college freshmen and found that the frequent exercisers and athletes drank more often and were more likely to binge drink than those who exercised less often. These results were similar to another study by the National College Risk Behavior Survey.

The authors of the new study, Drs. Michelle Moore and Chudley Welch, are not sure if being part of a sports culture somehow promotes the usage of alcohol and drugs.

Labels: athletics, drug_use, exercise

Alaska is soon to become the second state to implement a statewide drug policy for high school students. It made the move in an effort to curb teen drug and alcohol use, which is among the highest in the nation.

"Students participating in an interscholastic activity who are reported using drugs, alcohol or tobacco will face progressively more severe penalties. A first offense brings a 10-day suspension from all activities. A fourth offense will result in a participation ban for the rest of the student's time at school."

The policy remains in effect even when a student athlete's activity is over for the year. The only exception is for tobacco use. If a student is caught using tobacco while on suspension, the suspension will start over, and will continue being re-started until the entire 10 days have been served. Source: Anchorage Daily News

Labels: athletics, high_school, suspension

Lindsey was a 4.0 high school student who was into swimming and was also the MVP of her softball team; until an older boyfriend introduced her to cocaine. Her addiction was immediate and the next year of her life was consumed by the drug.

"According to the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse, by the time a teen reaches age 17, 7 out of 10 will have been offered an illegal drug. Many, like Lindsey, underestimate how quickly they can develop an addiction."

The key to recovery, according to therapist Paul Hokemeyer, is to put the addicted person in a new community; a residential treatment program that can help him or her break the cycle. Read more at WUSA.9.com.

Labels: addiction, athletics, high_school

This weekend, the University of Virginia (UVa) will host APPLE – Athletic Prevention Programming and Leadership Education – a conference aimed at sharing the UVa substance abuse prevention model that was developed for athletic teams. Representatives from about 40 colleges and universities are expected to attend.

"[Co-director Susan] Bruce said she hopes those schools will then be able to follow the University's example to develop and implement their own substance abuse programs. 'One of the exciting things about the conference is that many of the attendees will be student-athletes,' Bruce said."

One of the keynote speakers at this year's conference, Travis Apgar, Associate Dean of Students at Cornell University, will discuss hazing and its detrimental effects on students' mental health.

Labels: athletics, college_students, prevention

The University Interscholastic League recently released a detailed plan for testing Texas high school athletes for steroid use. Legislation passed earlier in the year allotted $3 million for a statewide testing program.

"Student athletes who test positive for steroids or who refuse to take the test will be suspended for 30 days from competition and must pass a test before regaining eligibility. Students who test positive a second time during their high school participation face a one-year suspension from athletic contests."

A student who tests positive a third time will be permanently banned from high school sports.

Labels: athletics, schools, steriods

Currently most school districts in the U.S. don't allow charter school students to participate in public school-based athletic programs unless a co-op agreement exists between the two schools. But a new Minnesota legislative bill would give students attending recovery-based schools the chance to participate.

"Any need for a co-op agreement would be dissolved under [State Rep. Mary Liz] Holberg's bill if the student is attending a recovery-focused high school after successfully completing a licensed treatment program for alcohol or substance abuse, mental illness or emotional disturbance."

The rules prohibiting substance abuse would still apply and be enforced for any student participating in sports programs. Holberg believes that giving the kids healthy, productive ways to spend their time as their battling substance abuse will aid in their recovery. Read more at TwinCitites.com.

Labels: athletics, public_schools, sports