Pubdate: Sun, 08 Oct 2006 Source: Chicago Sun-Times (IL) Copyright: 2006 The Sun-Times Co. Contact: http://www.suntimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/81 Author: Taylor Bell 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. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine