With recent alcohol and drug related charges against men’s basketball and football players, the ISU athletic department is looking to enhance its efforts to educate student-athletes on alcohol use and drug abuse.

ISU Athletic Director Bruce Van De Velde said the National Center for Drug- Free Sport will assess and evaluate the athletic department this fall.

The center conducts drug testing for the NCAA and upon request from any university, provides assistance to the school’s intervention and counseling services.

“There are 450 student-athletes on campus, and we have reached more than 95 percent of them with our programs,” Van De Velde said. “Less than 10 student-athletes stand out, and we will not be satisfied until that number is zero.”

Andrea Wickerham, policy director for the National Center for Drug-Free Sport, said the organization is a good risk manager for the university and to the student-athletes.

“At the request of the Iowa State program, we made plans to audit the entire athletic department and evaluate what’s been happening,” Wickerham said. “Then we’ll provide a written report on the good areas and the red-flag areas of the athletic department.”

The audit consists of reviewing written policies by the university and interviewing players, coaches and administrators. Coaches and players are interviewed separately, to check consistency among the team, she said.

“Looking at the written policies allows us to determine if the rules are being implemented,” Wickerham said.

“Strengthening discipline will be on the agenda, and [the National Center for Drug-Free Sport] will provide opinions on the issue,” Van De Velde said. “The consequences will then be discussed with coaches.”

In addition to the audit, the center provides information to student-athletes on how to prevent the use of all potentially harmful substances.

“We address student-athletes and teach the accurate and latest information toward dietary supplements, marijuana, street drugs and alcohol,” Wickerham said of the educational programs. “Then we focus on deterring and preventing use.”

“It will add strength to our program,” Van De Velde said. “We are looking forward to the assessment and reporting of the organization.”

The national organization will supplement the programs the university already has to offer student-athletes.

Both the Student-Athlete Services and the Office of Compliance at Iowa State give presentations on alcohol and drug awareness to each ISU athletic team several times each year.

Also, first-year student-athletes must complete the two Mandatory Educational Programs; the Responsible Sexual Behavior and Alcohol Use and Abuse workshops.

“Education is important when it is not by itself,” said Sara Kellogg, program director for Iowa State’s substance abuse and violence prevention program, who presented the alcohol abuse program last year to first-year athletes.

“Multiple sessions are the most beneficial, not just the one-time shots,” she said. “It’s an ongoing effort and needs support from the coaches, administrators, health center staff, student counselors — anyone to assist.”

Van De Velde said Iowa State is fortunate to have qualified people on campus to help students and student-athletes.

“We have engaged people on campus, who are dedicated and are good at the work they are doing,” he said.

The NCAA, Big 12 Conference and Iowa State conduct random drug tests during the year.

If a student-athlete tests positive, he or she must attend counseling to retain eligibility. After three positive drug results, the player is dismissed.

“Student-athletes would enhance their performance by not using substances,” Wickerham said. “The educational programs give athletes as much information as possible to ‘just say no’ to peer pressure and to think about their actions.

Wickerham said the center will also review Iowa State’s drug testing method to determine what the best procedures are and if Iowa State is testing enough.

“[It] is an outsider’s pair of eyes and adds perspective to assist the university,” she said.

The ISU football team has already met with the center’s representatives this fall, while other ISU athletic teams will meet with them in the near future.