State of New Jersey
Executive Order #72

Acting Governor Richard J. Codey
WHEREAS, Executive Order No. 46 (2005) established the Governor's Task Force on Steroid Use and Prevention (hereinafter the Task Force) to assess and recommend measures to combat the growing problem surrounding the use of steroid and other performance enhancers by high school student-athletes in New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, the Task Force has provided a comprehensive report setting forth its findings and recommendations for addressing the problem of teen steroid use; and

WHEREAS, a number of those recommendations require legislative action, while others can be implemented more quickly through administrative direction; and

WHEREAS, the State of New Jersey must take immediate steps to begin to combat this problem before it becomes a public health crisis;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, RICHARD J. CODEY, Acting Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. The Department of Education is hereby directed to work in conjunction with the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) to develop and implement a program of random testing for steroids of teams and individuals qualifying for championship games. This program shall commence with the 2006-2007 school year.

  2. The Department of Health and Senior Services shall develop and implement as soon as possible a program to randomly test dietary supplement products for sale in New Jersey to detect steroid contamination.

  3. The Department of Education shall take all necessary steps to ensure that steroid education is incorporated into programs currently being utilized in New Jersey schools, such as the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program. DARE steroid education shall be introduced at the fifth grade level.

  4. The Department of Education shall take all necessary steps to ensure that each school district within New Jersey utilizes programs such as the Athletes Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids (ATLAS) and the Athletes Targeting Healthy Exercise and Nutrition Alternatives (ATHENA) models of steroid prevention for high school students.

  5. The Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Senior Services, shall take all necessary steps to integrate information on steroids, including prevention strategies, strength-building alternatives and the understanding of health food labels, into the health and physical education curricula at the 7th and 8th grade levels.

  6. The Department of Education, in conjunction with the Department of Health and Senior Services, shall take all necessary steps to develop a curriculum on steroids for high school health and physical education teachers to incorporate into their classroom instruction.

  7. The Department of Education, in conjunction with the Athletic Trainers Society of New Jersey, shall develop a downloadable presentation that certified athletic trainers can use to educate parent groups and students in a classroom setting.

  8. The Department of Education shall develop a training program for high school science teachers, student assistant coordinators and school nurses on the harmful effects of steroids and performance enhancers.

  9. The Department of Education, in conjunction with the NJSIAA, shall develop a mandatory steroids and nutritional supplements training program for all high school and middle school coaches. Such program shall include workshops and expert speakers.

  10. The Department of Education shall take all reasonable steps to encourage school districts to organize school assembly programs on steroid prevention.

  11. The Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, in conjunction with the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey, shall develop posters and anti-steroid advertisements as well as Public Service Announcements (PSAs) highlighting the dangers of steroid use, steroid precursors and nutritional supplements. Such posters shall be displayed in school locker rooms, weight rooms, athletic training facilities and at all State tournament games and championships.

  12. The Governor's Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, in conjunction with the NJSIAA, shall provide anti-steroid ads in all school sports programs and as public service announcements at all State tournament games. The resources of the Partnership for a Drug Free New Jersey should be made available for this purpose.

  13. The NJSIAA is strongly urged to incorporate steroid, steroid precursors and nutritional supplement education, as well as alternatives to strength gains, into the coaches' education program.

  14. The NJSIAA is strongly urged to conduct semi-annual or annual workshops for coaches and athletic directors in identifying the components of steroid use/abuse and prevention strategies.

  15. The NJSIAA is strongly urged to provide speakers on steroid prevention strategies at all coaches' workshops for all sports, particularly for those sports whose athletes are at high risk, such as football and wrestling.

  16. The steroid education programs and materials developed by all State entities and by the NJSIAA pursuant to this Order shall be made available to volunteer youth league coaches in New Jersey.

  17. There is hereby established a "Steroids Awareness Week," to be held the last full week in October each year. The Departments of Education and Health and Senior Services shall collaborate in organizing appropriate educational and other programs to be held during this week.

  18. The Departments of Education and Health and Senior Services, in conjunction with the NJSIAA, shall provide the Governor and the Legislature with a comprehensive report concerning the implementation of this Order within a year of the effective date of this Order.

  19. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 20th day
of December, Two Thousand and Five, and of
the Independence of the United States, the Two
Hundred and Thirtieth.

/s/ Richard J. Codey

Acting Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Mark J. Fleming

Deputy Chief Counsel to the Governor