Dec 26, 2005
New Jersey to Test for Student-Athlete Steroid Use

Office Of The Governor
CODEY ANNOUNCES FINDINGS OF STEROIDS TASK FORCE
New Jersey First to Take Comprehensive Statewide Action
(TRENTON) -- Acting Governor Richard J. Codey today released the official report from the Governor's Task Force on Steroid Use and Prevention and signed an Executive Order making New Jersey the first state in the nation to take comprehensive statewide action to address the growing issue of high school steroid use.
"We've all seen the statistics and read the articles about the impact that steroids are having on kids. This is a growing public health threat, one we can't leave up to individual parents, coaches or schools to handle," said Codey. "This report puts us at the forefront in dealing with the problem of steroids. Today, we are putting this plan into action and becoming the first state in the nation to address this problem on a statewide level."
Codey signed the Executive Order at Seton Hall Preparatory Academy where he was joined by members of the task force, including Monsignor Michael Kelly, task force chairman and headmaster at the academy, Peter King, award-winning journalist for Sports Illustrated and Lisa Brady, Superintendent of South Hunterdon Regional High School.
Codey created the task force in July in response to national statistics demonstrating a growing use of steroids among high school students. Last year, 3.4 percent of 12th-graders nationwide admitted to using anabolic steroids at least once, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). That's up 67 percent since 1991. In addition, 2.4 percent of 10th-graders and 1.9 percent of 8th-graders said they have used anabolic steroids at least once, according to the NIDA.
Codey charged the task force with conducting a study to determine the breadth and scope of the problem in New Jersey. The task force divided itself into five subcommittees to address the following components: research, education, testing, health / psychological effects of steroids and nutritional supplements, and steroids and college athletics.
In doing so, the task force spoke to national experts on the subject, interviewed high school students, held a statewide educational summit for coaches and athletic directors and held public hearings to gain additional input.
Based on their findings, the task force compiled a broad list of recommendations to address the growing problem, including the following:
* Steroid education should be built into programs currently being utilized in New Jersey schools, such as the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program. DARE Steroid education should be introduced at the fifth grade level.
* Each school district should utilize programs such as the ATLAS and ATHENA models of steroid prevention for high school students.
* Integrate information on steroids, including prevention strategies, strength building alternatives and the understanding of health food labels, into health and physical education curricula at the 7th and 8th grade levels.
* Develop a curriculum on steroids for high school health and physical education teachers to implement into their classroom instruction.
* Conduct semi-annual or annual workshops for coaches and athletic directors in identifying the components of steroid abuse / use and prevention strategies.
* Conduct random championship testing for student-athletes.
* Randomly test dietary supplement products for sale in New Jersey to detect steroid contamination.
* Impose monetary and criminal penalties on manufacturers and owners of retail, Internet, and mail order establishments selling the contaminated products.
Today, Codey turned those recommendations into action, signing an executive order that will address many of the reports major recommendations, including:
* Directing the Department of Education to work with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association to develop and implement a program of random testing for steroids among teams and individuals qualifying for championship games, which will commence with the 2006-2007 school year.
* Directing the Department of Health and Senior Services to develop and implement a program to randomly test dietary supplement products for sale in New Jersey to detect steroid contamination.
* Various other orders directing the Department of Education to work with the Department of Health and Senior Services and other agencies to implement a broad-range of educational components from the fifth grade level on up through high school.
Other recommendations included in the report may require legislative action to implement. The administration will continue to examine these recommendations in the coming weeks to determine the best course of action.
A copy of Codey's Executive Order is included below. A full copy of the report from the Governor's Task Force on Steroid Use and Prevention, can be viewed at www.nj.gov / steroids / finalreport.
EXECUTIVE ORDER NO. 72
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 46 (2005) established the Governor's Task Force on Steroid Use and Prevention (hereinafter the Task Force) to assess and recommend measures to combat the growing problem surrounding the use of steroid and other performance enhancers by high school student-athletes in New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, the Task Force has provided a comprehensive report setting forth its findings and recommendations for addressing the problem of teen steroid use; and
WHEREAS, a number of those recommendations require legislative action, while others can be implemented more quickly through administrative direction; and
WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey must take immediate steps to begin to combat this problem before it becomes a public health crisis;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD J. CODEY, Acting Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
1. The Department of Education is hereby directed to work in conjunction with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to develop and implement a program of random testing for steroids of teams and individuals qualifying for championship games. This program shall commence with the 2006-2007 school year.
2. The Department of Health and Senior Services shall develop and implement as soon as possible a program to randomly test dietary supplement products for sale in New Jersey to detect steroid contamination.
3. The Department of Education shall take all necessary steps to ensure that steroid education is incorporated into programs currently being utilized in New Jersey schools, such as the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program. DARE steroid education shall be introduced at the fifth grade level.
4. The Department of Education shall take all necessary steps to ensure that each school district within New Jersey utilizes programs such as the Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS) and the Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives (ATHENA) models of steroid prevention for high school students.
5. The Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Senior Services, shall take all necessary steps to integrate information on steroids, including prevention strategies, strength-building alternatives and the understanding of health food labels, into the health and physical education curricula at the 7th and 8th grade levels.
6. The Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Senior Services, shall take all necessary steps to develop a curriculum on steroids for high school health and physical education teachers to incorporate into their classroom instruction.
7. The Department of Education, in conjunction with the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey, shall develop a downloadable presentation that certified athletic trainers can use to educate parent groups and students in a classroom setting.
8. The Department of Education shall develop a training program for high school science teachers, student assistant coordinators and school nurses on the harmful effects of steroids and performance enhancers.
9. The Department of Education, in conjunction with the NJSIAA, shall develop a mandatory steroids and nutritional supplements training program for all high school and middle school coaches. Such program shall include workshops and expert speakers.
10. The Department of Education shall take all reasonable steps to encourage school districts to organize school assembly programs on steroid prevention.
11. The Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, in conjunction with the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey, shall develop posters and anti-steroid advertisements as well as Public Service Announcements (PSAs) highlighting the dangers of steroid use, steroid precursors and nutritional supplements. Such posters shall be displayed in school locker rooms, weight rooms, athletic training facilities and at all State tournament games and championships.
12. The Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, in conjunction with the NJSIAA, shall provide anti-steroid ads in all school sports programs and as public service announcements at all State tournament games. The resources of the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey should be made available for this purpose.
13. The NJSIAA is strongly urged to incorporate steroid, steroid precursors and nutritional supplement education, as well as alternatives to strength gains, into the coaches' education program.
14. The NJSIAA is strongly urged to conduct semi-annual or annual workshops for coaches and athletic directors in identifying the components of steroid use / abuse and prevention strategies.
15. The NJSIAA is strongly urged to provide speakers on steroid prevention strategies at all coaches' workshops for all sports, particularly for those sports whose athletes are at high risk, such as football and wrestling.
16. The steroid education programs and materials developed by all State entities and by the NJSIAA pursuant to this Order shall be made available to volunteer youth league coaches in New Jersey.
17. There is hereby established a "Steroids Awareness Week," to be held the last full week in October each year. The Departments of Education and Health and Senior Services shall collaborate in organizing appropriate educational and other programs to be held during this week.
18. The Departments of Education and Health and Senior Services, in conjunction with the NJSIAA, shall provide the Governor and the Legislature with a comprehensive report concerning the implementation of this Order within a year of the effective date of this Order.
19. This Order shall take effect immediately.
GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 20th day of December, Two Thousand and Five, and of the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Thirtieth.


Richard J. Codey
Acting Governor
Attest:
Mark J. Fleming
Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor