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New
Jersey Tests High School Athletes for Steroids |
Posted:
1.04.06
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In December, New Jersey became the first state in the nation
to approve random steroid testing for high school athletes in
all sports.
Printer-friendly versions: PDF
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The decision, made by Governor Richard Codey, directs New Jersey
high schools to begin random steroid testing in the 2006-7 school
year.
Codey, who is also a youth basketball coach, created a task force
on steroid use and prevention in July in response to national
statistics showing increased steroid use among high school students.
"This is a growing public health threat, one we can't leave
up to individual parents, coaches or schools to handle,"
he said at a news conference.
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Steroid use
on the rise |
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The number of high school students who admitted taking steroids
has almost doubled in five years: 6.1 percent in 2003 up from
3.1 percent in 1998, according to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention.
Peter King, a member of the task force and a senior staff writer
at Sports Illustrated, interviewed 28 coaches, athletes and school
administrators to determine how widespread steroid use was in
New Jersey schools.
"While steroids are definitely in use in New Jersey high
school sports -- mostly in football ... the use of steroids is
not widespread at all levels of sport," he concluded. "Use
is more prevalent at the schools where athletes have a better
chance of using sports to get college scholarships."
The task force also reported that the use of steroids and supplements
is greatest in large, suburban schools where there is more pressure
to make varsity teams, more students who can afford to buy steroids,
and more private training opportunities like health clubs where
steroids are available.
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New Jersey
outlines a testing plan |
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New Jersey plans to limit testing to a selection of student athletes
who qualify for post-season play.
Of the nearly 230,000 students who participate in 31 different
high school sports in New Jersey, about 10,000 take part in championship
games.
Under the governor's plan, 500 -- or 5 percent -- of those students
will be tested.
Students caught using steroids will likely be suspended from
sports activities in addition to whatever penalty might be imposed
by their school.
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Responses
to the plan |
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Overall, response to the governor's plan has been positive.
 Students
want cheaters to be caught and coaches want a level playing field.
"If you ask our players, all they would want is that the
players across from them be under the same rules as we are. We
don't want to play against men when we're boys," an unnamed
student told the task force.
Editorials in newspapers across the state have generally supported
the plan, although it is not without its critics, including those
concerned about cost.
Initial estimates from the governor's office put the cost at
$50,000 for the first year.
Other critics point to privacy concerns. Deborah Jacobs, executive
director of the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey,
said although she does not plan to challenge the plan in court,
she considers it an invasion of privacy for students and their
families.
"This really undercuts the rights and roles of the parent
and interferes with family privacy," Jacobs told the New
York Times. "It should be up to a family to decide what kind
of exams a student should be subjected to."
The Supreme Court has twice ruled that drug testing of students
is constitutional.
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Heath risks
of steroids |
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Anabolic steroids stimulate muscle tissue to grow by mimicking
the effects of the hormone testosterone.
 Teens
who take steroids and weight train "bulk up" more quickly.
Teens who use steroids may look and feel stronger, but only at
great risk to their health.
The adverse side affects from steroid use include the potential
to stunt growth, cause irreversible liver damage, enlarge the
heart muscles and cause violent mood swings.
In boys, steroids can reduce the size of the testicles, decrease
sperm production and cause breasts to grow. In girls, steroids
may disrupt the menstrual cycle and cause fertility problems.
The governor's plan calls for steroid awareness and education
programs for student, coaches and teachers in both middle and
high school.
--
By Anne Bell for NewsHour Extra
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It's important to understand both sides in an election, and I think it will be interesting to hear the Republican opinion on big issues. As a writer, it will be my job to take that perspective and share it with the youth of the country, a crowd that mainly supports Obama.
