He will bring his program, "The Life of an Athlete," to Dublin next week to talk about the affects drugs and alcohol can have on an athlete's performance.

His two-day visit is sponsored by PERC (Parents Encouraging Responsible Choices).

He will meet Oct. 21 with coaches and advisers from Dublin's high schools and middle schools as well as city and school leaders. The next day he will meet with athletes at each of the three high schools, and also with the district's Athletic Council and Code of Conduct Committee.

There also are two public sessions planned Oct. 22 at the Dublin Community Recreation Center, from 9:30-11 a.m. and 7-8:30 p.m. The topic is titled "Parenting Your Athlete," with a focus on underage drinking.

Underwood targets athletes because they make up the largest student population in a school. Anywhere from 40 to 90 percent of the students in a high school play at least one sport, he said.

And, he said, athletes should care more than any other group about the affects alcohol and drugs have on their performance.

"There are no positive affects from drinking or smoking pot. É We've done the research and can show these kids that the price tag is too big to rationalize partying," he said.

One night of drinking can wipe out 14 days of training because of alcohol's affects on the heart, lungs and muscles, he said.

Four years ago, New York state, where Underwood lives, put rules in place to severely penalize athletes who violated their schools' codes of conduct. Those codes have withstood challenges by the ACLU and parents who turned to the courts to get their child reinstated, Underwood said.

It takes a community to make changes to the "rampant" problem of substance use and abuse, said Underwood, who takes his message to all segments of the population when he is asked to speak.

While some kids will still drink and tragedies will happen as a result, Underwood hopes it's not because a community "left a stone unturned. É That they know they did everything possible to deter the use of social drugs by athletes."

To learn more about Underwood and his research and presentation, go to www.americanathleticinstitute.org and click on "high school" and "prevention basis."

cpreston@thisweeknews.com