Athletes, coaches say schools need steroid tests, By: Ashley Randazzo
June 26, 2006
A few high schools in the area have been drug testing athletes for years, although steroids weren't always among the list of drugs the tests traced.
As a result of former Acting Gov. Richard Codey's December 2005 executive order, any New Jersey high school athlete who qualifies for the state tournament could be randomly selected for drug testing.
"I definitely know a lot of people who have said they want to (use steroids)," said Dave Giuliani, West Deptford senior outfielder and 2005 Times Player of the Year in baseball. "No one had a supplier, but if it was an option they probably would use."
Why?
"Kids see that that's how guys are getting ahead. If you see pro scouts coming and you're going to hit the ball 500 feet with steroids, they think, 'If I get caught I'll be suspended for a little bit, but if I don't get caught I could get a $2 million contract,' " Giuliani explained.
West Deptford High School has been randomly drug testing athletes throughout each season for about eight years, according to football coach and assistant athletic director Clyde Folsom. However, the tests were used to spot amphetamines and other performance enhancers, not steroids, Folsom said.
If athletes are seriously contemplating using steroids, Giuliani thought the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association's random testing -- beginning this fall -- would "definitely stop them."
"The name of the game is to get bigger, stronger, faster," Washington Township Athletic Director Kevin Murphy said. "This is a policy that's going to help athletes get bigger, stronger, faster through proper nutrition, strength and conditioning.
"(Codey's order) is going to put the emphasis on how to train and prepare for interscholastic sports," he said.
Clearview Regional similarly tests athletes at the start of each athletic season. If an athlete refuses to be tested, he or she is unable to participate in the sport.
The $20 test detects amphetamines, barbiturates, cocaine, marijuana, methadone, opiates, codeine, and morphine, and the test could possibly trace other drugs, like steroids, Clearview Athletic Director Greg Horton said.
"We instituted drug testing to all the programs, hoping to curtail any unforeseen problems," said Horton.
The school didn't test for the last two years, but when they did in the past -- and they will test again beginning this fall -- it wasn't for punitive reasons but, rather, to help the athletes, Horton said.
Horton explained that athletes will also be randomly selected throughout the season for testing.
A 2004 study by the office of National Drug Control Policy revealed that 1.9 percent of eighth-graders, 2.4 percent of 10th-graders and 3.4 percent of 12th-graders had used steroids at least once. It also revealed that 42 percent of 12th-graders said that anabolic steroids were "fairly easy" or "very easy" to obtain.
Another study by the Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy reported that the rate of anabolic steroid use among high school females in the United States is 2.5 percent.
"Because the numbers are small doesn't mean it's not a problem," Murphy said. "Any numbers are a problem. As educators I applaud the state and athletic association for addressing it."
Dr. Lawrence Epple, chairman of the Department of Pediatrics at Underwood-Memorial Hospital, explained that steroids can cause boys to lose their hair and develop breasts, as well as result in shrinkage and loss of function in their testicles.
Girls can risk the growth of facial and body hair, a deeper voice, breast reduction and an irregular menstrual cycle.
Steroids can cause both boys and girls to develop acne and jaundice and can stunt a young person's growth.
There is also an increased risk of high cholesterol, liver cancer, heart attacks, mood swings, hostility, aggressive behavior and depression, which could lead to suicide attempts.
"Depression is most prevalent when the steroids are leaving the system," Dr. Epple said. "Many effects are reversible, but some things are permanent."
