Bloomfield Hills – Student athletes, coaches, and athletic directors from schools in Birmingham, Bloomfield Hills and Beverly Hills got together April 24 at St. Hugo of the Hills Church to discuss making good choices.

“Choices” was a student-led dialogue day designed to bring students together to hear compelling information and dialogue with one another on the issue of teen substance use and abuse. The event was hosted by Birmingham Bloomfield Community Coalition's Youth Action Board.

Representatives from the board said they targeted student athletes because of the high regard for athletics in schools and the community and because it is a group of students they don't typically get together on this issue in one large forum.

“Choices” featured an enlightening presentation from John Underwood, founder and president of the American Athletic Institute, who works with high school athletic programs across the country to raise awareness of the real consequences to athletes who use drugs and alcohol.

Underwood adapted his presentation from the institute’s “Life of an Athlete” prevention/intervention series, “Life of an Athlete” is a five-year high school program designed to confront chemical health issues and impact the problems that face today’s student-athlete. 

The presentation helped the student athletes in attendance to understand and confront the chemical health and negative on-field performance issues resulting from drug and alcohol.

Representatives from the coalition and area coaches and athletic directors then led discussion sessions with the athletes to discuss how each could impact other students at their school and assist in helping to eliminate drug and alcohol use among youth.

Through a New York State Public High School Athletic Association mandate the "Life of an Athlete" program trains every school district in New York State in this very important curriculum.  This program is currently being incorporated into many other prevention efforts in states throughout the country.

Underwood is a former NCAA All-American, International-level distance runner and World Masters Champion. He has coached or advised more than two dozen Olympians including World and Olympic champions.