PED Education in the Classroom

In a study conducted by the BlueCross BlueShield Association, 69 percent of teens indicated they had not received information on the dangers of using PEDs from their coaches.¹

It’s important that you talk with your athletes and students about the dangers of using PEDs. You might be the only person who can help them make the choice to compete drug-free.

The National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) and the TSSAA are both working to help coaches educate their students and athletes about PEDs, and a number of resources are available through these organizations to help coaches talk to teens about PEDs in the classroom, weight room and locker room.

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee encourages you to use these resources to talk with teens on your team or in your physical education classes. Let them know where you stand on the issue of PED use and help them develop and stick to healthy training regimens.

Resources:

• Healthy Competition – www.healthycompetitiontn.org and www.healthycompetition.org
• "The Facts on PEDs" handout for athletes
• "Talking to Teens" about PEDs handout for parents and coaches
• Healthy Training Tips
• Talking Tips
• Healthy Competition Pledge
• Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention
• The Coach’s Playbook Against Drugs
• National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS)
  
  • NFHS “Make the Right Choice” initiative
  • Parent brochure
  • Student brochure

Order copies of these brochures, posters showing the side effects of steroids as well as a DVD about steroid use from the NFHS by calling 800-776-3462.

Sources:
1 National Performance-Enhancing Drug Study. BlueCross Blue Shield Association, 2001. www.healthycompetition.org
National Federation of State High School Associations -- www.nfhs.org