The school nurse's role in prevention of student use of performance-enhancing supplements

An alarming trend in the United States is the use of performance-enhancing supplements by children and adolescents. These widely available over-the-counter products, often marketed as natural substances, are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and are thus widely available. High school and even middle school students are using these supplements because they are misled into thinking that supplements will enhance their athletic skills resulting in an improvement in their performance. Yet, the safety and long-term effects of these supplements have not been established in reputable or prevalent studies. School nurses have a unique opportunity and even an ethical responsibility to help in efforts to address this growing trend. Specific roles for the school nurse include serving as a student advocate for the health and safety of children and adolescents; identifying at-risk students; forming partnerships with teachers, parents, students, coaches, athletic trainers, and local health care providers; evaluating and refining health-oriented curricula; collecting and disseminating new knowledge; and staying abreast of new findings.