SEEKING A SOLUTION TO STUDENT DRUG USE

I've always let and even coaxed my kids to watch shows like Trauma: Life in
the ER and Cops.

It is a kind of reinforcement to the fact that illegal drugs are harmful
and may kill. But it's up to the parent to guide the child by providing
love and guidance for proper mental and physical growth.

Sports and extra-curricular activities of any kind are also strong
components in that plan to have a normal kid.

But what is normal?

Recently another parent was telling me he heard a stat that has more than
90 per cent of local high school kids having tried dope at least once.

By dope I mean grass, cocaine, ecstasy, heroine, LSD or whatever other
substance students can get their hands on.

To me that stat is way way too high.

I talked to a few teachers and some say it is more like 50 per cent or 55
per cent for drug usage.

If even that is true, my advice to my kids and other kids will then have to
be, 'Don't be normal.'

Another drug to watch out for on the sports scene is anabolic steroids.

Mike St. Germain, the offensive line coach with the Trappers and Ravens
football teams, realizes that some players will look to steroids as a
stepping stone or cheat treat to improve their game.

"At the start of the football season we always talk to the kids about the
usage of steroids and its long-term effects to the body," said St. Germain.

"In the past, we have had suspicions of some kids using it, so we sit them
down and give them the hard facts about what can happen to them."

What can happen, you ask?

Impotence, hair loss, acne, mood disturbances -- including mania and
depression -- cardiovascular disease, liver disease, kidney disease, risk
of HIV and Hepatitis B and C from contaminated needles, bad breath, water
retention, muscle cramps, aching joints, nose bleeds, insomnia, decrease in
immune system effectiveness, infertility, prostate enlargement, decreased
testicular size, cancer and death.

And believe it or not the list of side-effects goes on and on.

All of this so you can look like a comic book character. Duh?

Instead of anabolic steroids, "a lot of kids nowadays are using creatine,"
said St. Germain.

But what is this creatine stuff? Is it a herb, hormone, mineral, steroid or
vitamin? In one study I heard that it has been estimated that three out of
four athletes who participated in the last Olympic Games were taking creatine.

But at what stage in life should you start taking this stuff?

I'm no doctor but shouldn't you just let your body grow naturally and then
maybe when you are 18 or so, go for that extra boost? Speaking of extra
boost, it would be great to see some annual fix-up maintenance on Corless
Field.

Each year, whether I'm coaching junior or senior high school track, it's
mandatory to go down a day in advance and fix up the runways, pits and
such. For the last six or seven seasons, the conditions have proven
extremely dangerous to the kids and need major repairs.