Most people at every point on the steroid regulatory spectrum, from the advocates of steroid legalization to anti-steroid zealots, agree that anabolic steroid use by teenagers is bad. There are a few people who believe steroids are good for children, pre-teens and teenagers. But in general, most people agree with government efforts to reduce steroid use in teenage athletes. Unfortunately, they seem to accept all anti-steroid efforts without question regardless of their efficacy or lack thereof. People seem to be content with “feel good” endeavors that accomplish little.
Florida, New Jersey and, most recently, Texas have all passed legislation mandating drug-testing programs for anabolic steroids in students competing in extracurricular sports at public high schools.
After looking at the details of the UIL Anabolic Steroid Testing Program, I can see several reasons why Texas program is likely to be ineffective. State officials in Texas believe their massive steroid testing program should be a model for other states!
In general, the media have been the cheerleaders praising the program. A reporter from the Houston Chronicle seemed satisfied with news that Florida’s steroid testing program uncovered 1 positive steroid result out of 430 steroid tests citing “favorable feedback.” This was in spite of the following statement from the Florida High School Athletic Association:
The odds are not really in your favor that you are going to get somebody.
The Chronicle reporter then interjected some of that Texas pride suggesting that the Texas steroid testing program would be bigger and better than Florida’s.
Florida’s testing program will target only 1 percent of student athletes who participate in football, baseball, girls’ softball and weightlifting, or about 604 students. The Texas testing program will involve about 3 percent of all high school student athletes. Florida is spending $100,000 for its testing program, while Texas will spend nearly $3 million a year. Texas will test as many as 25,000 student athletes per year.
Students tested: Texas (25,000) vs. Florida (604)
Percentage tested: Texas (3%) vs. Florida (1%)
Taxpayer funds spent: Texas ($3 million/year) vs. Florida ($100,000)
Yes – Texas definitely beats Florida – as the biggest failure in efforts to reduce steroid use by high school athletes.
About the author
Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.
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