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FARA begins involvement with NCAA drug study

Faculty athletics representatives at all member institutions have received the survey form, which they are to administer by October 11.

"FARA had raised the possibility of getting involved with the student-athlete welfare issue," said Percy Bates, faculty athletics representative at the University of Michigan, "and we had looked particularly at issues like this one."

Bates noted that the Association previously had used research money to pay Michigan State University to administer the national study. While the Michigan State researchers did an excellent job, it was not the most efficient way to conduct the survey, given that faculty at member institutions could administer it at no charge and without travel expenses.

Also, having faculty administer the survey gives the NCAA the ability to survey all of its membership rather than just a sample, which previously was the case.

In this survey, each faculty representative has been assigned one or more teams at his or her institution. The faculty representative is responsible for making certain that all members of the assigned teams complete the questionnaire, which is designed to take 30 to 45 minutes. All information from the student-athletes is provided on a confidential basis.

Frank D. Uryasz, NCAA director of sports sciences, said the purpose of the study is to note any changes in the pattern of drug use by student-athletes. Information sought includes whether a student-athlete uses drugs and, if so, what kinds and how frequently. The Association uses the information to help direct drug-prevention efforts.

Bates is serving as primary investigator for the project, which will be completed with the assistance of the NCAA sports-sciences and research staffs.

Uryasz says he expects the results to be available by May 1997.