County officials in New York State announced a new program this week to provide public school coaches and athletic trainers with training tools to combat substance abuse among high school student-athletes.

The East Hampton Star reports that Suffolk County officials announced the program after piloting it in three districts last year. In that time, 60 coaches received training on how to identify student-athletes who may be using liquid nicotine, marijuana, opioids or alcohol.

Coaches in the program receive a 75-minute course on the specific warning signs associated with drug and alcohol abuse, as well as strategies for intervening. Developed by Stony Brook University’s Center for Prevention and Outreach, the Long Island Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (LICADD), civic advocates, Families In Support of Treatment as well as coaches, athletic directors and athletic trainers, the program will be funded from the County’s operating budget and will be made available to interested districts ahead of the next sports season. read more at athleticbusiness.com