TY - JOUR
T1 - Outcomes of a Prospective Trial of Student-Athlete Drug Testing
T2 - The Student Athlete Testing Using Random Notification (SATURN) Study
AU - Goldberg, Linn
AU - Elliot, Diane L.
AU - MacKinnon, David P.
AU - Moe, Esther L.
AU - Kuehl, Kerry S.
AU - Yoon, Myeongsun
AU - Taylor, Aaron
AU - Williams, Jason
N1 - Funding Information:
This project was supported by a grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (DA-12018) (to L.G.). Supported in part by PHS grant 5 MO1 RR00334. Clinical Trials number ( www.clinicaltrials.gov ): NCT00451854 . David MacKinnon, Ph.D., the study analyst, and Linn Goldberg, M.D., are independent of any commercial funding source, have had full access to all of the data in the study, and take responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis. The authors sincerely thank the school boards, superintendents, principals, coaches, school staff, student-athletes and their parents involved in this study. The authors are also grateful for the expert legal counsel of Janet Billups, J.D., Timothy Volpert, J.D., Robert A. Schlacter, J.D., Mark A. Friel J.D., M.A., and the Institutional Review Board of the Oregon Health & Science University for their support.
PY - 2007/11
Y1 - 2007/11
N2 - Purpose: To assess the effects of random drug and alcohol testing (DAT) among high school athletes. Methods: This was a 2-year prospective randomized controlled study of a single cohort among five intervention high schools with a DAT policy and six schools with a deferred policy, serially assessed by voluntary, confidential questionnaires. DAT school athletes were at risk for random testing during the full academic year. Positive test results were reported to parents or guardians, with mandatory counseling. Indices of illicit drug use, with and without alcohol use, were assessed at the beginning and end of each school year for the past month and prior year. Potential mediating variables were evaluated. Results: Student-athletes from intervention and control schools did not differ in past 1-month use of illicit drug or a combination of drug and alcohol use at any of the four follow-up periods. At the end of the initial school year and after 2 full school years, student-athletes at DAT schools reported less drug use during the past year (p < .01) compared to athletes at the deferred policy schools. Combining past year drug and alcohol use together, student-athletes at DAT schools reported less use at the second and third follow-up assessments (p < .05). Paradoxically, DAT athletes across all assessments reported less athletic competence (p < .001), less belief authorities were opposed to drug use (p < .01), and indicated greater risk-taking (p < .05). At the final assessment, DAT athletes believed less in testing benefits (p < .05) and less that testing was a reason not to use drugs (p < .01). Conclusions: No DAT deterrent effects were evident for past month use during any of four follow-up periods. Prior-year drug use was reduced in two of four follow-up self-reports, and a combination of drug and alcohol use was reduced at two assessments as well. Overall, drug testing was accompanied by an increase in some risk factors for future substance use. More research is needed before DAT is considered an effective deterrent for school-based athletes.
AB - Purpose: To assess the effects of random drug and alcohol testing (DAT) among high school athletes. Methods: This was a 2-year prospective randomized controlled study of a single cohort among five intervention high schools with a DAT policy and six schools with a deferred policy, serially assessed by voluntary, confidential questionnaires. DAT school athletes were at risk for random testing during the full academic year. Positive test results were reported to parents or guardians, with mandatory counseling. Indices of illicit drug use, with and without alcohol use, were assessed at the beginning and end of each school year for the past month and prior year. Potential mediating variables were evaluated. Results: Student-athletes from intervention and control schools did not differ in past 1-month use of illicit drug or a combination of drug and alcohol use at any of the four follow-up periods. At the end of the initial school year and after 2 full school years, student-athletes at DAT schools reported less drug use during the past year (p < .01) compared to athletes at the deferred policy schools. Combining past year drug and alcohol use together, student-athletes at DAT schools reported less use at the second and third follow-up assessments (p < .05). Paradoxically, DAT athletes across all assessments reported less athletic competence (p < .001), less belief authorities were opposed to drug use (p < .01), and indicated greater risk-taking (p < .05). At the final assessment, DAT athletes believed less in testing benefits (p < .05) and less that testing was a reason not to use drugs (p < .01). Conclusions: No DAT deterrent effects were evident for past month use during any of four follow-up periods. Prior-year drug use was reduced in two of four follow-up self-reports, and a combination of drug and alcohol use was reduced at two assessments as well. Overall, drug testing was accompanied by an increase in some risk factors for future substance use. More research is needed before DAT is considered an effective deterrent for school-based athletes.
KW - Adolescent
KW - Drug and alcohol testing
KW - High school
KW - Substance use
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.08.001
DO - 10.1016/j.jadohealth.2007.08.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 17950161
AN - SCOPUS:35248846602
SN - 1054-139X
VL - 41
SP - 421
EP - 429
JO - Journal of Adolescent Health
JF - Journal of Adolescent Health
IS - 5
ER -