Some high school athletes seek a competitive advantage using steroids, or performance enhancing drugs (PEDs), risking serious health problems.
It’s hard to pinpoint exactly how many students are using PEDs, but recent studies give us an indication. A 2014 study by the nonprofit Partnership for Drug-Free Kids found that 7% of high school students surveyed admitted to using anabolic steroids. A 2018 study found that 3% of student-athletes in the 10th and 12th grades utilize anabolic steroids or other forms of PEDs.
Steroids significantly increase injuries in any athlete, and for children, the injury can be much more drastic. According to the National Library of Medicine, a drug-using student experiences 40% more concussions than the average child and is 40% more likely to develop abnormally high blood pressure.
PEDs pose health risks and can even cost students’ lives. There is a reason students use, however, as many students look to improve their athletic performance as a way to fit in.
The dangers of steroid use should be taught in 9th grade health, in the drug safety unit. This will better inform students who may not realize what the consequences of their actions may be.
Schools and athletic organizations should also test for PEDs. Since the implementation of drug testing in 2012 by the IHSA (Illinois High School Association) close to 2,000 athletes have been tested.
Testing is another vital safety net. However, the IHSA’s system of testing is deeply flawed. There are currently more than 320,000 student-athletes in Illinois, meaning that only 0.625% of current athletes have been tested. Also, testing is completed by going through a third party reporter, to a third party tester, a testing facility, and then back to the third party to report.
Each party must be paid in this process, which leads to a waste of resources and much less testing. A complete overhaul is in order as drug use is a serious and prevalent problem that is not being addressed by the current policy. Without the waste of third parties, the IHSA would be able to test significantly more athletes and successfully curb the use of PEDs in High School Sports.
By implementing a new system, the IHSA and OPRF could protect the next generations of athletes and better develop students, leading to a positive change in all levels of competitive sports.
