As spring sports get underway, a new campaign is taking hold in local athletics, aimed at giving student-athletes knowledge that goes beyond the field.

The “Protect Your Game” campaign aims to reduce underage substance misuse by connecting athletes, coaches and parents with the latest research on how alcohol, marijuana and nicotine affect athletic performance. The effort emphasizes a simple but powerful idea: decisions made off the field can directly impact success on it.

“This campaign aims to provide athletes with the information they need to make informed choices,” said Karen Douglass, Community Prevention Coordinator for One Prevention Alliance. “When they understand how substances impact their strength, endurance, and recovery, those decisions become much clearer.”

Building a common understanding

At the heart of Protect Your Game is a science-based approach that explains how commonly used substances can impair reaction time, decrease lung capacity, slow muscle recovery and ultimately limit performance.

The goal is not just awareness, but alignment.

By building a shared understanding among athletes, coaches and families, the campaign encourages more open conversations about substance use and its effects.

“We want to shift the conversation from rules and restrictions to performance and potential,” Douglass said. “Athletes care deeply about their game and this connects those choices directly to what matters most to them.”

From conference idea to community rollout

The campaign’s introduction locally started with a connection at a national prevention conference hosted by CADCA (Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America) last June.

After learning about Protect Your Game, organizers brought the concept back to the community, where school and coalition leaders quickly saw its potential.

Following an initial overview, school leadership, including Stevenson High School Principal Teresa Burns and Athletic Director Chris Perk, expressed interest in exploring the approach further. A webinar with Substance-Free Athletics and coalition members helped solidify the decision to move forward.

“There was immediate interest once we shared the concept,” Perk said. “It really resonated with how we already support student-athletes, and it gave us a stronger, science-based framework to build on.”

A team-driven effort

Implementing the campaign involves collaboration among school staff, coaches, and community partners, each with a specific role in reaching student-athletes.

“This is truly a team effort,” Somer Meade, OPA Chair said. “Each person brings a different voice and level of influence, which helps the message reach athletes in meaningful ways. We are excited to have David Waymire and Caleb Wheeler overseeing our athletic presentations and their leadership in wanting to improve and make it more impactful with each session.”

Launching with spring sports

Funded by One Prevention Alliance through funds received by Washington State Health Care Authority, the campaign is launching alongside spring sports, with outreach already starting among teams and families.

Coaches will receive weekly reminders and tools to incorporate prevention messaging into practices, helping reinforce the campaign’s themes throughout the season.

“This isn’t a one-time presentation,” Douglass said. “It’s about consistent messaging, making prevention part of the culture, not just a conversation.”

Looking ahead

While the current rollout focuses on spring athletics, organizers hope the campaign will expand to all sports in the future.

For now, the focus is on gaining momentum, assessing impact, and refining the approach.

“Our hope is that this becomes something bigger, something that’s embedded in every sport and every season,” Douglass said. “But right now, we’re focused on doing it well and making a difference for the students in front of us.”

At its core, Protect Your Game is about more than just prevention. It’s about empowering student-athletes to safeguard their performance, health and future.

About One Prevention Alliance

OPA is a coalition of community members and organizations working together to prevent underage use of alcohol, marijuana, tobacco, opioids, and other substances. Focused on the Stevenson-Carson School District and broader Skamania County, OPA uses data-informed strategies to address root causes of substance use and strengthen protective factors within families and schools. To learn more or get involved, visit onepreventionalliance.com.

If you wish to learn more about a prevention coalition in your area, please visit Community-Based Prevention.