Okay, let's get real for a minute. I
use steroids and have been for several months - again. And
yes, I have used them in the past. I have them on doctor's
prescription, to help heal a very minor injury which caused a
staff infection and two bouts of I/V antibiotics (21 total
days at 2/day IVs) this year. The steroid I'm using is a
hydro-cortisone salve to help heal my skin from an abrasion
and, hopefully, to help prevent another staff infection.
But....I'm not using steroids to help build muscle mass,
improve physical performance at sports, or even to maintain my
youthful sexual prowess into my dotage! My use is bad enough,
that kind of use is downright dangerous.
How dangerous, you might ask? Well, see my article on the
dangers of a simple little thing like artificial
sweeteners, and the mounting evidence of not only
carcinogenic damage but, worse, DNA damage to the genes. You
know, the stuff you pass along to your children so they will
grow up to be normal human beings rather than distorted freaks
or sickly weaklings, or cripples, or..... But enough
digression, back to Steroids, High School abuse and possible
long-term consequences.
Way back in the late 1970's I knew a woman who was so vain
that she wanted to stay young, active and sexually attractive
even though she was nearly 60. She was using steroids and she
looked like she was sixtyish and using drugs, but she felt
good, thought she looked great and her husband accepted it.
She just wanted to "maximize the human experience"
as long as possible and they both accepted the long term
consequences of her actions. We talked about it quite a lot at
the time.
First a brief look at Major League Sports - football,
baseball, basketball, hockey, track and field. The world has
been using steroids and/or other performance enhancing drugs
for about 40 years, to the point where Olympic Testing
constantly turns up "champions" who have been using
one or another of the performance enhancing drugs. Football
stars, retired, have died in their 30's and early 40's of
complications from performance enhancing drug use. A
couple of young up and comers in pro baseball have recently
died and several have tested positive for steroid use. So far
there's no real evidence in that either Hockey players or
Basketball players have been using steroids, but I'll wager
that they have been and speculation on Television Sports Shows
indicates that they have been.
Is there a steroid problem in High Schools? The answer is an
emphatic "yes"! Is there a steroid problem in Junior
Highs and Grade Schools? The answer is still an emphatic
"yes"! Though not quite as bad as in our High
Schools. Are we, as a nation, doing something about it? The
answer is "Slowly, but a growing movement" is
gaining steam against High School Steroid Use. Here's a look
at what's happening nationwide (no data available on Canada).
According to a survey by the Center for Disease Control and
Prevention, steroid use among high school students more than
doubled between 1991 and 2003. More than 6% of 15,000 students
surveyed admitted trying steroid pills or injections. At the
same time less than 4% of the nation's high schools were
testing for steroids, according to the National Federation of
State High School Associations' survey of athletic directors.
Further, John Stewart, Commissioner of the Florida High School
Athletic Association, asserts "there has to be a
trickle-down effect" at the college and high school
level, when citing the use of steroids at the professional
level.
Independent surveys estimate 1.5% to 2% of Florida's high
school athletes might be using steroids. "But against a
student base of 215,000 athletes, it's kind of scary to think
that possibly 4000 are at risk out there," Stewart says.
"We don't want to see any youngster's life at risk."
Stewart is also concerned by a study that showed not only
football players and weightlifters, but females in the
9-to-11-year-old age group using them (steroids) to enhance
their build. "That's scary because it means parents are
buying them for kids. And its a scary thing that society is
dictating to kids that young that it's OK to put your health
at risk to have a body type that seems so critically
important," Stewart says.
Not only are steroids and other performance enhancing drugs
being tested for, but there is a growing movement to test for
all "recreational" drugs as well. With School Board
approval, Polk County in Florida began testing for
recreational drugs in 2004 and added steroid testing in
January of this year, 2005.
The major problem faced by School Districts, School Boards and
Athletic Departments is funding. At this time recreational
drug tests cost approximately $18.00 per student to
administer. The random steroid tests run upwards of $100 per
test.
Other counties in Florida are following suit with drug and
steroid testing. Other states are also jumping on the
bandwagon of testing. In May (2005) the Fort Zumwalt School
District board in St. Charles County, MO, approved a voluntary
testing program. Also last month the Texas House approved a
bill directing the University Interscholastic League to
develop a comprehensive education program for students,
coaches and parents, and to survey high school students to
gauge the level of anabolic steroid use. A 2002 study by Texas
A&M University estimated up to 42,000 Texas students were
abusing steroids. "Most parents would be shocked to learn
- as I was - that teenagers use veterinary-grade anabolic
steroids from Mexico - drugs made for horse, cattle and
pigs," King (Rep. Phil, Texas) notes.
Lawmakers in other states have considered bills that would
mandate statewide testing programs for student athletes.
Opponents argue that money and time could be spent far more
efficiently. California has implemented new regulations
requiring parents, players and school officials to sign
contracts promising athletes will avoid steroid use. Just
before the California Interscholastic Federation voted in
favor of the new rules, Frank Marrero of Vacaville recalled
how his 19-year-old son's addiction to steroids and paranoia
led to his suicide by gunshot.
In summary, we do seem to have an epidemic of drug and steroid
use among both athletes and non-athletes (see ref. to
11-year-old girl above). We already have proof that continued
abuse with steroids will cause the body to break down
physically, will cause in particular certain types of tumors
to develop, and will often eventually develop into a form of
cancer. I'm reminded of the long-term problems resulting from
exposure to Agent Orange by Vietnam Vets. I'm also put in mind
of the DNA and genetic changes documented above, in artificial
sweeteners, and believe that time and testing will show
possible genetic/DNA damage from steroids, as well.
We are playing with our human genetic future using all sorts
of "chemical substitutes and enhancements" -
steroids, performance enhancing drugs, artificial sweeteners,
genetically modified organisms (food grains, etc., hard to
digest).
Disclaimer:
This article in no way should be taken as “medical
advice” on any product, condition or course of action, nor
does it constitute in any way “medical advice” endorsing
any specific product, specific result, nor any possible cure
for any condition or problem. This article is meant as a
source of information upon which you may base your decision as
to whether or not you should begin using any vitamin, mineral
and/or herbal supplement for better health, or begin using a
“greens” product as a dietary supplement.
If in doubt, or if you have questions, you should consult your
physician and, if possible, consult a second physician for a
possible different opinion. The author does not bear any
responsibility for your decisions nor for the outcome of your
actions based upon those decisions.
Reference includes Author's personal experience and
memory, and USA Today Sports Weekly for June 8-14, 2005. Check
this edition for additional and very frightening information
on High School steroid use.
