Residents of central Ohio should be happy to know that the Safe & Drug-Free School Consortium, a program of the Franklin County Educational Council, annually devotes funding for education, research, and development to help kids live healthy and drug-free lives.

Recognizing that athletics plays a major part in many kids' lives, the Consortium dedicates specific programs to help coaches assist their student athletes with making sound, positive choices, and to positively affect non-athletes to make good choices as well.

I am very proud to be a part of their mission, and have delivered coaching seminars through the Consortium for many years. This month, I would like to share with you some of the most recent findings from the Primary Prevention Awareness, Attitude, & Usage Survey (PPAAUS) conducted in 2006.

The PPAAUS survey is a needsassessment that was started in 1988 and is repeated every three years. Over 78,000 students (athletes and non-athletes) in public and private schools participated in this self-report survey. Here are a few of the major highlights:

* Students report lower substance use when their friends and parents specifically say, "It's not okay to use."

* Students report lower substance use when they believe their teachers respect them and see their parents work together with teachers to protect them.

* Students who come from families which promote strong family values that are against drug use are less inclined to use drugs and alcohol.

* Students who participate in school programs are less inclined to use drugs and alcohol.

* Students who do use drugs or alcohol are more inclined to skip school, cheat in school, vandalize property and get suspended from school.

Since student athletes are often the most visible and recognizable students, I encourage parents and coaches to pay special attention to what they can do to not only help keep children safe from tobacco, alcohol and other drugs, but also to help them help other students make safe and confident decisions.

Student athletes can lead this effort and help change a school's climate, but it takes adults to encourage them and teach them how. Here are some things you can do to help your child get started in making those positive changes:

* Send frequent, clear, no-use messages. Statements about drugs and alcohol, such as "I don't approve" and "I'll be upset" are a good start, but be sure to lay out specific consequences that will be enforced if a child uses drugs or alcohol.

* Increase positive peer influence. Student athletes can have a lot of peer influence, so be sure to encourage them to have the courage to be outspoken about school policy and negative consequences of tobacco, alcohol and other drug use. Kids will often influence other kids more than adults can, so make them aware of how important this role is.

* Encourage participation in extra-curricular activities. Many research studies suggest that being involved in organized activities--including athletics--teach the importance of self-discipline, teamwork, and respect, while decreasing the likelihood of involvement in gangs, violence, and substance abuse.

* Create a positive school climate. When kids feel connected to their surroundings they are more likely to engage in pro-social endeavors and to be positive role models for their peers.

The behaviors of kids today are a community issue, not just a school issue. The best approach is for everyone to work together to keep our kids safe, healthy and drug-free. We are very fortunate in Franklin County to have the collective efforts of schools through the Safe & Drug-Free School Consortium which helps kids make good decisions, lead healthy lives, and ultimately reach their full potential.

If you are interested in learning more about the Consortium and its programs and resources, please visit www.edcouncil.org.

Dr. Chris Stankovich is an expert in sport psychology and has co-written two books, The Parent Playbook and Positive Transitions for Student Athletes. If you have a sports question,chris@drstankovich.com, visit DrStankovich.com or call 614-561-4482.