Teenagers who have strong, trusted relationships with adults, such as a parent or mentor, are consistently found to be less likely to misuse substances.
To help foster these relationships, Cheshire Medical Center’s Orthopaedics Department has been providing support for local high school athletic training programs, aimed at creating positive experiences for students with local healthcare providers.
The program offers athletic training services—such as concussion management, muscle taping, and game-day medical coverage—to help prevent, diagnose, treat, and rehabilitate injuries.
Cheshire has offered this program for more than 20 years. Currently, these services are available to students at Keene High School and Monadnock Regional Middle High School, as well as to the Keene Swamp Bats, Keene State College and Franklin Pierce University.
“Athletic trainers don’t just treat injuries; they protect potential," said Ashley DeLEa, MS, ATC, N.H.LAT, practice manager for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine. "By educating athletes, building trust and promoting healthy choices, they play a vital role in preventing a substance use disorder before it begins.”