High Schools Challenged by Increased Steroid Use March 31, 2004
News Summary
With testing for steroid use too expensive for most school districts, school administrators across the country are struggling with how to curb the growing use of steroid and supplements among high-school students, the Associated Press reported March 26.Steroid use is not just limited to star athletes who are competing for college scholarships; school officials said the problem extends to non-athletes who think a more buff body will make them popular. A recent survey of 50,000 teens conducted by the University of Michigan found that 3.5 percent of high-school seniors used steroids at least once, up from 2.1 percent in 1991. The figures exclude users of over-the-counter supplements, such as andro or creatine.
"There was a big increase when Mark McGwire broke the home-run record. Of course, he was using andro, but that may have been a distinction lost on a lot of the kids," said Lloyd Johnston, who led the study. "If you're looking at a classroom of 30 boys, one of them is using steroids."
While a number of schools test for marijuana, cocaine, and other illegal drug use at an estimated $9,000 each season, most schools are unable to afford the additional $44,000 to test for illegal bodybuilding drugs.
"For a small district to do this kind of testing would be cost-prohibitive," said Joseph Wilimek, a school superintendent in California. "Right now our priority is keeping staff -- we've had to lay off three teachers and reduce our administrative staff already."
In Florida, state Rep. Marcelo Llorente (R-Miami) has introduced a bill that would address the cost issue of steroid testing. Under the measure, each county would be required to randomly test at least 5 percent of its athletes. The University of Florida veterinary laboratory would analyze the tests for a cost of $33 each. The school lab already tests steroid samples of horses and greyhounds.
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