Blueprints
Promising Programs
| ATLAS (Athletes Training
and Learning to Avoid Steroids) |
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Program Overview:
ATLAS (Athletes Training
and Learning to Avoid Steroids) is a drug
prevention and health promotion program that emphasizes
the impact of anabolic steroids, alcohol, and other
drugs on immediate sports performance. This program
can be implemented through schools, recreational centers,
and other community organizations with adolescent
male athletes.
Program Targets:
This gender-specific intervention targets male high
school athletes.
Program Content:
ATLAS is integrated into team practice sessions and
consists of a classroom curriculum and weight room
skill training sessions. Coaching staff or surrogates
administer the seven to eight 50-minute classroom
sessions, and program staff administer the seven to
eight weight room sessions. The classroom curriculum
covers subjects such as risk factors of steroid use,
strength training and sports nutrition, as well as
skills to refuse steroids and other substances. In
addition, nutritional recommendations and false claims
of over the counter supplements are discussed. The
weight room sessions provide demonstrations of different
weight-lifting techniques, while reinforcing other
elements of the classroom curriculum. ATLAS also incorporates
a one evening informational session for parents about
the program as well as ways in which parents can help
reinforce the knowledge gained by the youth in the
classroom curriculum.
Program Outcomes:
In a randomized controlled evaluation involving over
3,200 student athletes (3 cohorts in 1994, 1995, 1996)
in 31 schools, ATLAS youth (first two cohorts combined)
compared to control youth were:
Drug Use Intentions and Behaviors:
- Less likely to actually use steroids at post-test
and one year follow-up;
- Less likely to use alcohol and other drugs (marijuana,
amphetamines and narcotics) at the one year follow-up;
and
- Less likely to have new occurrences of drinking
and driving at the one year follow-up.
Substance Use Mediators and Health Promotion Behaviors:
- Less likely to intend to use anabolic steroids
at post-test;
- Greater self-reported ability to refuse drug offers
from peers at both time periods;
- Greater knowledge of the effect of steroids and
alcohol at both time periods;
- Heightened perception of coach intolerance to
drug use;
- Improved nutrition behaviors;
- Enhanced strength training self-efficacy;
- Greater knowledge of the effects of exercise and
sport supplements at post-test and one year;
- Greater confidence in athletic abilities at post-test
and one year follow-up; and
- Less likely to believe advertisements for sports
supplements and positive steroid use images at both
time periods; and sport supplement use lower at
one year follow-up.
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