IT'S NOT WORTH THE RISK

The illegal use of muscle-building anabolic steroids has raised its ugly
head in Bakersfield. It is disconcerting to read news stories that three
Bakersfield police officers admitted to investigators they used the
strength-enhancing drug.

Possible use of steroids has been raised as a potential factor in the
arrest of a Bakersfield 15-year-old accused of killing his mother. A vial
of the suspected drug was found in the suspect's bedroom. The teen told
investigators he has used steroids -- but not in the last month -- to bulk
up to earn him a place on Centennial High School's football team.

And some parents told The Californian they believe the use of steroids
among high school students is rampant.

Alarm bells should be going off in the offices of coaches, school
administrators, cop shops and the homes of parents and guardians of teen-agers.

Every effort must be made to destroy the steroid culture in schools and
workplaces -- especially ones where strength is needed to enhance the job.

The Internet provides evidence that illegal use of steroids is widespread
nationwide. Sadly, steroids not only can be ordered via the Internet, but
there are chat rooms detailing how to use the drug.

Steroids, used to build muscle mass, can make some people feel more
aggressive, energetic or depressed. Side effects for people who use them
vary, but they can include paranoia. The National Institutes of Health
lists homicidal rage, mania and delusions among the psychiatric effects of
steroid use.

That potential in persons sworn to enforce the law is a time bomb for disaster.

It's a tragedy in the making for gifted, young athletes.

Medical experts also fear the long-term effects of steroid use can be
severe. It has been linked to illnesses ranging from fatal cases of cancer
to destruction of internal organs.

Peer pressure can be deadly. An officer can fear being shown up by his or
her comrades. Athletes see team members juicing up on steroids and figure
they should indulge in the illegal activity to become a starter or a star.

Such misguided adults and teens are not getting the message about the
dangers inherent in steroid use. These drugs are not worth the risk.

Student athletes in the Kern High School District who are caught with
steroids for the first time become ineligible for participation in sports
for 18 weeks. The second violation brings a yearlong ineligibility and a
permanent ban from school sports if caught a third time.

Kern High School District officials say drug testing is not done regularly
due to the fuzzy constitutional standing of conducting the tests.

And attempting to establish a random drug-testing program for just its
athletes -- those most likely to be tempted to use steroids -- would be
fraught with legal problems, according to Pete Carton, general counsel for
the Kern County Superintendent of Schools.

Constitutional problems also don't allow random testing of officers.

That means to alleviate the problem at the high school level,
administrators must have coaches step up the monitoring of their athletes,
checking any telltale signs of drug use, such as mood swings.

Let's not forget the important role of parents. They also must closely
monitor their children and along with coaches deliver strong and regular
lectures on the harm steroids and other drugs cause.

On the adult level, supervisors should do the same and make sure that
trouble awaits anyone who is tempted to use the deadly elixir of instant
strength.

It is for the good of not only the individual but all of society.