Student Athletes are the Champions for Change
Empowering athletes to lead conversations about impaired driving, mental health, and safer choices.
MADD Sports empowers athletes to use their influence to help prevent impaired driving and promote safer choices.
Student athletes, coaches, and sports leaders who want to make a positive impact on and off the field.
Athletes are role models whose actions shape campus culture and peer decision-making.
Student athletes are leaders on campus and beyond. Their visibility makes them powerful advocates for safer choices and responsible decision-making.
Grow Awareness
Create Content
Recruit Athletes
Lead by Example
Expand MADD’s reach among student athletes and their communities.
Share messages that reach student athletes where they already engage.
Invite others to elevate the importance of MADD’s mission.
Promote wellness, safe decisions, and positive coping skills.
Now Available: Coaches’ Guide to Preventing Substance Use and Promoting Mental Wellness Among Youth Athletes
You’re more than a coach—you’re a mentor, role model and trusted adult who can help shape the culture and choices of young athletes.
The new MADD Sports Coaches’ Guide is designed to help you bring prevention into everyday team life with practical tools, conversation starters and activities focused on healthy choices, mental wellness, peer support, safety and strong team culture.
Whether you’re preparing for a new season, navigating tough conversations or looking for ways to strengthen your team culture, there’s something you can put to work right away.
Explore the free guide and share it with a coach, athletic director or youth sports leader who could use it.
71.7%
55%
44%
of student-athletes reported alcohol use within the past year
of male student-athletes reported binge drinking
of female student-athletes reported feeling constantly overwhelmed
Mental Health and Athlete Safety
Student athletes face intense pressure from performance expectations, competition, injuries, concussions, and personal challenges. These factors can increase vulnerability to risky behaviors such as impaired driving.
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The Silent Struggle: Addressing Mental Health, Substance Use, and Impaired Driving Among Student Athletes
Today’s student-athletes are navigating more pressure than ever, balancing athletic performance, academics, personal expectations, social media, injuries, identity, and the transition into adulthood. Mental health, substance use, and impaired driving are deeply connected issues that require more than a one-time presentation. They require trusted partnerships, peer support, early education, and a culture where asking for help is seen as strength.
Through MADD Sports and our Mental Health Partners, we are committed to helping athletic departments create healthier, safer environments for student-athletes. Our approach connects impaired driving prevention with mental wellness, personal accountability, substance use awareness, and real-life decision-making. By working alongside universities, coaches, athletic trainers, student-athlete development teams, parents, and campus leaders, we help address the pressures that can lead to risky choices before those choices become life-changing consequences.
Our Mental Health Partners bring specialized expertise in student-athlete wellness, peer support, behavioral health education, and prevention-focused programming. Together, we provide practical tools that help athletes recognize stressors, support teammates, understand the risks of alcohol and drug use, and make responsible choices on and off the field. This partnership model is designed to meet student-athletes where they are, with relevant conversations that connect mental health, substance use, impaired driving prevention, leadership, and long-term well-being.
MADD Sports believes prevention is most effective when it is proactive, relatable, and rooted in care. By combining MADD’s mission to end impaired driving with the expertise of our Mental Health Partners, we can help student-athletes thrive, protect their futures, and build a culture of responsibility, wellness, and accountability across athletics.
Advisory Board members initiate conversations about responsible behaviors and help MADD reach diverse audiences.
Tim Brown
Kelly Burke
Lauren Correnti
Founder & CEO, Deep Blue Sports + Entertainment
Lindsay Czarniak
Host, CBS Sports HQ
Harold Dennis
Heather Dinich
Stephania Ergemlideze
Top Sports Creator, Philanthropist, and Owner of @basketball
Drew Galbraith
Senior VP,
Player Health, NBA
Ashaunte McLean
Walter Rouse
Minnesota Viking
Offensive Tackle
Dr. Justine Siegal
Commissioner, Women’s Professional Baseball League
Jennifer Spicher
President, Major League Volleyball
MADD Sports supports the Kyree Jackson Foundation and its Drive for Khy pledge, a national driver safety initiative created to honor Kyree Jackson, Isaiah Hazel, and Anthony Lytton Jr.
Every decision behind the wheel has the power to protect lives, teammates, families, and communities.
Why Join
Training opportunities, PSAs, and media interviews to amplify your voice.
Tools to promote safe transportation options among fans and peers.
A platform to join advocacy efforts and drive real change in your community.
Complete this quick form to get started with MADD Sports now.
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