NCAA Minimum Guidelines for Institutional Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drug Education Programs


In addition to the signing of the drug testing form, each athletic department should conduct a drug and alcohol education program once a semester. This would raise the awareness of student-athletes as well as educate those students who may transfer mid-year.

The athletic director, coach, compliance officer and sports medicine personnel should also participate in the program. 

This program should: 

  1. Review/develop individual team drug and alcohol policies.

  2. Review the athletic department's drug and alcohol policy.*

  3. Review institutional drug and alcohol policy.

  4. Review conference drug and alcohol policy.

  5. Review institutional or conference drug-testing programs (if any).

  6. Review NCAA alcohol, tobacco and drug policy including tobacco ban, list of banned drug classes and testing protocol.

  7. View the NCAA drug-education and drug-testing video.

  8. Discuss nutritional supplements and their inherent risks.

  9. Allow time for questions from student-athletes.

Schools are encouraged to contact The Center for Drug Free Sport on contract with the NCAA, for specific banned drug and testing protocol questions. They can be reached at www.drugfreesport.com or 816/474-8655. 

*Each athletic department should have a written policy on alcohol, tobacco and other drugs. This policy should include a statement on recruitment activities, drug testing, discipline, counseling or treatment options.


The contact for this page is mwilfert@ncaa.org

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