Research
myPlaybook is an evidence-based program designed to prevent alcohol and other drug-related harm among college student-athletes. Funding for the pilot study was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the NCAA.
Division II Pilot Study
Funding for the following Division II NCAA pilot study was provided by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the NCAA.
What was done…
Approximately 60 DII schools and 2500 student athletes completed pre, post and 30 day follow-up surveys during the fall semester of 2008.
What was found…
- After taking myPlaybook, student-athletes demonstrated immediate gains in knowledge of NCAA drug testing procedures and banned substances, negative alcohol expectancies, and negative marijuana expectancies.
- Social norms related to the prevalence of binge drinking and marijuana use among college student-athletes became more accurate.
- The prevalence and frequency of binge drinking during the previous 2 weeks was significantly reduced.
- Intentions to use harm prevention strategies related to alcohol increased significantly.
- Most of these effects were maintained up to 30-40 days after the program
What did they think…?
Sudent Atheletes:
- 87% stated that myPlaybook was “easy” or “very easy” to use
- 74% felt that the presentation of course content was “good” or “great.”
- 75% of student-athletes felt that myPlaybook was “better” or “much better” than current drug education programs.
The percentage of student-athletes reporting that they “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” with the following statements was as follows:
- Will take myPlaybook seriously (72.4%)
- Can benefit from myPlaybook (90.4%)
- Should be given more drug education/prevention (71.2%)
- Drug education should accompany drug testing (80.4%).
Atheletic Staff:
- 80% of administrators thought that myPlaybook was “easy” or “very easy” to use.
- 83% thought that the administrative tools were easy to use.
The percentage of administrators reporting that they “Agree” or “Strongly Agree” with the following statements was as follows:
- Student-athletes will take myPlaybook seriously (62.9%)
- Student-athletes can benefit from myPlaybook (100%)
- Student-athletes should be given more drug education/prevention (97.1%)
- Drug education should accompany drug testing (94.3%)
Southern Conference-Wide Efficacy Study
During the 2009/2010 academic year, an efficacy study was conducted to assess the conference wide implementation of myPlaybook. Funding for this study was provided by the National Center for Drug Free Sport, the NCAA as well as the Southern Conference.
What was done…
11 colleges and universities agreed to provide myPlaybook to their freshmen student-athletes. Preliminary results indicate that approximately 405 student athletes accessed myPlaybook. This sample was represented by 45.8% male athletes and 54.2% female athletes across various sports.
What was found…
- After taking myPlaybook, pre to post test measures identified:
- Increases in knowledge of drug effects, banned substances, and drug testing procedures increased
- Athlete-specific drug use social norms became more accurate (more conservative)
- Social norms of “close friends” became more accurate (more conservative)
- Negative alcohol expectancies increased
- Negative marijuana expectancies increased
- Negative tobacco expectancies increased
- Negative steroid expectancies increased
- Negative stimulant expectancies increased
What did student-athletes think…?
- Over 83% felt they benefited from taking myPlaybook
- Specifically; since taking myPlaybook:
- 80% felt better prepared to handle an alcohol or other drug emergency (e.g., alcohol poisoning)
- 73% said they were more likely to intervene with a friend who is in trouble with alcohol or other drugs
- 81% said they thought more about how to prevent alcohol and other drug related harm
