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Raged Over Roids

February 4, 2008

Why do steroids appeal to high school athletes?
by Michael Mankoff

roids.jpgUnlike professionals, eighteen-year-old athletes whose goals are making a varsity sports team don’t receive signing bonuses or million dollar paychecks, nor do they receive international acclaim for their performances; however, the issue of steroids, just like with the pros, is alive and kicking in the high school arena and is a cause for concern.
     While statistics vary, the National Institute of Drug Abuse’s survey of steroid use among teenagers reported that 3.5% of high school seniors admitted to using steroids. That may not sound like a lot, but it’s a 67% increase over 1991 figures, and a 17% increase over 1999 figures.
    The increase is not just evident in high school athletes either, with Roger Clemens, seven former MVPs and more than 80 professional players being indicted for steroid use, as well. The Mitchell Report that was released December 13, 2007 seems to have had the greatest impact on cracking down on steroids in professional sports thus far. “ I think the fact that the names of the professional athletes were cited in the (Mitchell) report, will help deter high school athletes from steroid use. Now that these kids’ favorite players are getting in trouble, I believe they won’t want to take the risk,” said TJ Football Coach Matt Nicolo.
     Other TJ student athletes such as football phenom Devon Fitzgerald have a much simpler reason to hate steroids. “I think athletes who use steroids aren’t true athletes. Part of being an athlete is working hard and pushing yourself; steroids are just the easy way out,” he said. The problem today is that high school athletes are taking the easy way out. The latest survey conducted by the Federal Centers for Disease Control say 700,000 teens or five percent of all high school students use steroids. Surprisingly these statistics are not limited to males, but high school females are also abusing steroids. Out of 8,000 females interviewed, a little over five percent reported prior or ongoing steroid use. Senior swimmer Alex Hurlbut could only characterize steroid usage among females as, “They are disgusting and completely unnecessary.” Furthermore, side effects are much greater in females than in males because steroids act as a male hormone.
    But don’t be mistaken; the consequences for steroid usage in both sexes are very serious, especially at a young age. Not only does the use of anabolic steroids stunt growth by closing the growth plates in the long bones, but it also develops major cases of acne that accompany drastic mood swings, also known as “roid rage.”
     As a former Fullerton College football player, Coach Matt Nicolo has witnessed first hand the effects of steroids. “I’ve seen guys put their head through car and house windows when they were experiencing the crazy mood swings.” The rage can come at anytime, and usually is on a grand scale. “I’ve seen three offensive linemen struggle to hold down a tiny running back when he was roid raged,” exclaimed Nicolo. Personally witnessing the side effects deterred Nicolo away from the thought of steroid use as a college athlete. “I cared about my body too much to put those harmful chemicals into it for minimal gains.”
    The fact of the matter is that steroids are illegal because they are a very harmful substance. High blood pressure, heart disease, cancers, strokes, nausea and vomiting and sleep problems are all results of steroid usage. Something must be done immediately to cease their existence.
    Plans for drug testing in high schools are currently under review in most of the nation’s school districts. Several states like New Jersey, Texas, and Illinois have already commenced random testing of their student athletes and plan to increase the funding for these tests in the near future. It is too early to tell whether the tests are actually effective, but it appears the country is headed in the right direction when it comes to controlling the steroid usage. One can only guess how long it will be before random testing is instituted into Colorado high schools. As Thomas Jefferson Athletic Director Lani Nobles states, “In a perfect world, I would like to believe TJ is not a part of the steroid world.”

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Written by Michael Mankoff · Filed Under Features, Headlines, Sports