Anabolic Steroids and Performance-enhancing Substances

Anabolic Steroids and Performance-enhancing Substances (ASPES) are very serious issues among school-age children. These resources are meant to provide athletic directors, coaches, educators and parents with helpful information to identify signs and symptoms of anabolic steroid abuse and provide prevention strategies and communication tools with adolescents.

Since 2007 with the leadership of the Legislature through ORS 342.726, ODE responded to the very serious issue of use and abuse of anabolic steroids and performance enhancing substances (ASPES) among school-age children.

ORS 342.726

1. School districts shall include information on anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing substances, including prevention strategies, strength-building alternatives and the understanding of health food labels, in health and physical education curricula for kindergarten through grade 12 students.

2. The Department of Education shall ensure that school districts are utilizing evidence-based programs such as the Oregon Health and Science University's Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS) and Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives (ATHENA), which have demonstrated effectiveness in reducing anabolic steroid and performance-enhancing substance use by high school athletes.

3. The department shall work with voluntary organizations approved to administer interscholastic activities under ORS 339.430 to require school district employees* who are coaches or athletic directors to receive training once every four years on identifying the components of anabolic steroid abuse and use and prevention strategies for the use of performance-enhancing substances...

   School districts can include information on anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing substances in their annual drug and alcohol training to staff. School district can also incorporate anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing substances into classroom drug and alcohol curriculum.

Resources

Please note this is a partial listing and inclusion of external web links does not imply endorsement of either the reliability of the information presented or its suitability for a particular age group or grade level.

Program Links

OHSU

The ATLAS and ATHENA program links are available from this site.

ATLAS (Athletes Training & Learning to Avoid Steroids) is a scientifically proven program for male athletes. It provides healthy sports nutrition and strength-training alternative.

ATHENA (Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives) is a scientifically proven program for female athletes. ATHENA is an interactive connection between young women in sports, disordered eating behaviors, and body shaping drug use. It is easy to implement by coaches during the sport season.

For additional information on these programs call 503-418-4166 or email chpr@ohsu.edu.

PublicSchoolWORKS has an ODE approved training available through participating districts. “Steroid and Supplements: Use, Abuse and Prevention Strategies” training course covers the required topics and provides an approved assessment. It is housed within a learning management systems that automates the management, notification, tracking and documentation of training.

Training

ODE developed a PowerPoint training with an assessment component which will demonstrate knowledge and awareness in reducing anabolic steroid and performance-enhancing substance use by school-age children. School districts may also utilize programs such as the Oregon Health and Science University’s Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS) and Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives (ATHENA).

It is required of all school district employees* who are coaches or athletics directors to receive training once every four years on identifying the components of anabolic steroid abuse and use and prevention strategies for the use of performance-enhancing substances.

*ORS 342.721 (3) School district employee means: (a) An administrator, teacher or other person employed by a school district;(b) A person who volunteers for a school district; and a person who is performing services on behalf of a school district pursuant to a contract.

The assessment is required once every four years. If the employee changes school districts, the employee must provide the new school district with a copy of the “Notification of Completion”.

NOTE: The training does NOT produce an automated response, however, at the end of the assessment, a page is provided to be printed as the Notification of Completion. Be prepared at the start of the assessment to print the Notification of Completion.

Training PDF

This is the training required for all coaches and athletic directors by ORS 342.726 NOTE: This training does NOT produce an automated response, however, the assessment will provide a page at the end to be printed as your notification of completion.

Assessment

The assessment is required in order to receive a certificate of completion. The final page of the assessment will need to be printed for the Notification of Completion. Be prepared at the start of the assessment to print the Notification.

NOTE: The final page of the assessment will need to be printed. Please be prepared before starting the assessment.

All fields must be completed in the survey or your results may not be valid.