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Atlas and Athena programs will help lower substance abuse and medical disorders at Lincoln High

By:Alex Nguyen, Reporter / Photographer
URL:http://www.lincolnlogonline.org/sports/2007/06/Atlas_and_Athena_programs_will_help_lower_substance_abuse_and_medical_disorders_at_Lincoln_High
Accessed:November 21, 2008, 11:56 am
Copyright:  © Copyright 2007 The Lincoln Log. All rights reserved.
 

The Wellness Center at Abraham Lincoln High School has teamed up with the San Francisco 49ers in order to promote the Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS) and Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives (ATHENA) programs. The two programs will be established in the Fall of 2007. They have been started in several high schools by the National Football League (NFL) in over 31 states in the United States and US territories such as Puerto Rico. They are used to promote healthier nutrition among student athletes and prevent substance abuse.

Every Lincoln High sports team will be participating in the ATLAS and ATHENA programs. Coaches may nominate one athlete for every group of five to become a Squad Leader. The Squad Leaders will attend 45 minute sessions with some of the developers of the programs. The ATLAS program for male participants consists of ten sessions, while the female ATHENA program consists of eight sessions. “[Teenagers] don’t really listen to adults that much, and when you become a teenager you’re more focused with connecting with your peers,” Wellness Center Coordinator Ian Enriquez said. Students will be chosen to be the Squad Leaders if they can communicate with their peers better than a coach would. Once a Squad Leader becomes well acquainted with the material taught to them, they will teach their group members. The program will receive $30,000 in funds from the 49ers in order to start the program. Its goal is to educate students to make wiser and healthier choices. The two programs have been tested in other states, and have been proven to decrease the amount of substance abuse and medical disorders among high school athletes.