IHSA DRUG TESTS LIKELY NEXT YEAR

Before you can begin to solve a problem, you must admit you have
one. And it is clear that, this side of New Jersey, most high school
administrators, coaches and other observers of the drug culture
are convinced steroids aren't a significant danger in today's society.

But the Illinois High School Association is taking a bold approach
to the controversial issue of drug testing. In 2007-08, if approved,
the IHSA will randomly test boys and girls during the state finals
of five sports -- football, basketball, swimming, wrestling and track.

"We have a problem with supplements and steroids. It is a health
issue as much as a competition issue," said Kurt Gibson, an
assistant executive director of the IHSA.

"There is no doubt as we get deeper into what our plan might look
like, our board must answer the same kinds of questions as New
Jersey. We are at a point where we can no longer assume it isn't
happening here or just California or New Jersey, but everywhere."

New Jersey is the only state that has adopted a mandatory random
testing program for steroids. In fact, it is the only state that has
adopted a drug testing program of any kind. Implemented for the
2006-07 academic year, the $50,000 program [paid by the
state] calls for testing during championship events and a one-year
ban from competition for anyone who tests positive.

After a U.S. Department of Health survey in 2003 revealed, on a
national average, that 3 percent of all high school students -- or
13 students in each Illinois high school -- had used steroids, the
IHSA's board of directors authorized executive director Marty
Hickman and his staff to begin working on a plan to educate and test
student-athletes.

"When you can put a face on a problem, it makes you take notice,"
Gibson said. "We are on the first step in developing a program,
creating a banned substance list. But as much as I think there is a
steroid issue, I also feel we must deal with supplements that kids
are taking."

Supplements an issue, too Nearly 75 high schools in Illinois have
adopted drug testing programs, some for athletes only, some for all
students, none for steroids. Curiously, only a handful are in the
Chicago area, including Homewood-Flossmoor, which was the first
school in the state to begin testing in 1989, Niles West, Antioch,
Luther North and Illiana Christian.

The IHSA is more concerned about supplements. Gibson said the IHSA
receives two to three dozen calls a year from parents, athletes and
schools inquiring about supplements. Which ones are banned? Which
ones are legal?

"Our sports medicine advisory committee is telling us what they can
do to make athletes make better choices," Gibson said. "We have put
together education units on our Web site [IHSA.org], power-point
presentations that deal with the effects of steroids and supplements.

"There needs to be more in our tool bag that we give schools other
than a testing program. We must increase people's awareness and
knowledge. Then, hopefully, they will make the right choices."

The National Federation of State High School Associations is
concerned about drugs and steroids but, at this point, Bob Gardner,
chief operating officer of the NFSHSA, believes education is "the
correct way to go" to make parents and athletes aware of the problem.

This flies in the race of an American Medical Association report in
2003 that stated youth steroid use was on the rise, increasing from
2.1 percent of high school seniors in 1991 to 4 percent in 2002. And
research by The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that
reported 4 percent of high school students in 2005 had used steroids.

"There is no conclusive evidence that [steroids] is a major
problem," Gardner said. "Testing is a deterrent. It doesn't end the
problem. But it gives athletes one more reason to say: 'I can't get
involved in this or I could be tested and lose my opportunity to
play.' Steroids is a problem but we first must go through an
educational process."

A costly proposition In Illinois, Homewood-Flossmoor has been
testing for 18 years. H-F tests 20 athletes twice a month for
alcohol, marijuana, pills and drugs of choice.

Athletic director Joe Skowronski said the program has been
successful but he claims he doesn't see a steroid problem. "It isn't
as big a problem [in high schools] as it is in college," he said.
"We are being proactive. We are trying to help. We're not trying
to hurt kids. If an athlete tests positive for drugs, he or she
must mandatorily get help. If they don't get help, they are
suspended until they do. Athletes know [the test] is a deterrent."

Why not test for steroids? It costs $35 for a urine test but $175
for a steroid test. "I don't know of any school that will go to
steroid testing because of the cost. And there are so many masking
agents to prevent detection," said Rock Falls athletic director Rich
Montgomery, whose school began testing in 1990.

Montgomery thinks the Rock Falls program is working. After a series
of meetings with townspeople and coaches, school officials conceded
there was evidence of drug abuse that needed to be addressed. In
2005-06, of 277 athletes who were randomly tested, eight tested positive.

Collinsville adopted a drug testing program this year. Modeled after
the Rock Falls program, it will test four athletes a week, four
times a season.

"We feel all athletes must partake in it or they can't be on an
athletic team," said athletic director Bob Hollingshead.

"We are like any other community. Drugs are available. We want our
kids to have another way to fight peer pressure. We want to hold
them to a higher standard. We wanted to have a way for our kids to
think about the [risks] and say no to drugs. The main thing is if a
kid has a problem, we want to educate him and get him help."

A STEROIDS PRIMER SIDE EFFECTS

Can include liver tumors and cancer, jaundice, high blood pressure,
kidney tumors, severe acne, and trembling.• In males, side
effects may include shrinking of the testicles and breast
development. In females, side effects may include growth of facial
hair, menstrual changes, and deepened voice. In teenagers, growth
may be halted prematurely and permanently.

steroidabuse.org

ADDICTIVE?

It is possible that some steroid abusers may become addicted to the
drugs, as evidenced by their continuing to take steroids in spite of
physical problems, negative effects on social relations, or
nervousness and irritability. Also, they spend large amounts
of time and money obtaining the drugs and experience withdrawal
symptoms such as mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of
appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and the desire to take more
steroids. The most dangerous of the withdrawal symptoms is
depression, because it sometimes leads to suicide
attempts. Untreated, some depressive symptoms associated
with anabolic steroid withdrawal have been known to persist for a
year or more after the abuser stops taking the drugs.

teens.drugabuse.gov

TO ENCOURAGE YOUTHS TO AVOID STEROID ABUSE

Present a balanced picture of what these drugs can do for them and
to them. Most adolescents know that anabolic steroids build muscles
and can increase athletic prowess. Research has shown that failure
to acknowledge these potential benefits creates a credibility
problem and can actually make youths more likely to try the drugs.

Make use of the authority of coaches and the team ethos. In the most
promising program currently under study, coaches and team leaders
are trained to educate team members about the effects of anabolic
steroid abuse, both desirable and adverse, in the general context of
training. They also provide information about nutrition and, of
course, exercise and other training techniques for improving
performance without the steroid abuse by as much as 50 percent and
also reduces alcohol abuse among teammates.