Steroids. My Thoughts on the Matter

Steroids.

Any of a large class of organic compounds with a characteristic molecular structure containing four rings of carbon atoms (three six-membered and one five). They include many hormones, alkaloids, and vitamins

Performance Enhancing Drugs

Substances used by athletes to improve their performances in the sports in which they engage.

" Dianabol, the breakfast of champions." - Arnold Schwarzenegger

Now I'm not going to go on a rant about how bad steroids and PED's are and how you're only hurting yourself by taking them. That's an easy stance to take and I'm all about playing devil's advocate.

I will say this much: It's a terrible venture for children and teenagers. For that reason, it makes me glad that more attention has been brought

I've met many people ranging from young to old that share the bond of current and ex-football players. Some of the older ones that I've gotten the chance to talk to would sometimes tell me that steroid use was mandated on their high school teams. So this crackdown on PED's and an increase in drug testing has worked to the game's advantage in the PR department. The crackdown at the prep level is better for players with no intention to play at a high level who could have been victim to mandated steroid use some 25 years ago.

As for myself, I never took steroids or witnessed anybody using steroids. A lot of people used creatine (even myself at a point), but I never witnessed anybody use steroids. That's not to say I played with any users. There were two kids who were believed to use steroids that I played with but none that I can confirm so I won't drop any names. Locally, steroid use is believed to be very prevalent at Glenbard North and Maine South High Schools from what I have heard.

Doping is still cheating but drug testing before the playoffs or an event is not going to stop kids that want to dope from doping. There's always going to be athletes looking for a competitive edge and a shortcut. Steroids and PED's provide both. The problem is that steroids, like a lot of substances, are unhealthy for children and unhealthy to abuse drugs of any kind.

Steroids have their place. They help cure diseases, foster muscular strength, treat medical conditions, and increase bone density. Steroids can work wonders in the medical world. However, they will continue to linger in our game. Stigma, drug testing, penalties, statistics, deaths and all. Doping in prep sports will never cease to exist entirely.