The steroid controversy involving MLB players may be dying down but high school officials are not likely to forget because this caused them to become more vigilant with their student athletes. The widespread use of performance enhancing drugs in professional sports has sparked a concern in the education sector that the influence of big time athletes could drive the younger ones to dabble with the banned substances as well. However, Cumberland Valley and Boiling Springs High Schools can breathe a sigh of relief because the recent drug tests conducted in these schools have yielded results that a very insignificant number of students are into steroids.
From The Sentinel:
“If we find we are having a problem with steroids, we can say to test for steroids every week of testing,” said Assistant Superintendent Mary Riley. “However, I would say, because of the lack of positive test results for steroids, it does not appear that Cumberland Valley is having a problem with these among our student-athletes.”
Neither is Boiling Springs High School.
“I don’t think it’s an issue in our school district,” said Athletic Director Scott Govern. “I don’t think there is a need at this point. We are a smaller school. I don’t think we have a problem.”
There was a report released by the Associated Press that in 2006 a random testing was performed on 30,799 students from the states of Florida, New Jersey, Texas and Illinois. But after two years Florida dropped the drug testing saying it is getting to expensive and a waste of taxpayers’ money especially at this time of recession.
Some critics say that the reason why the drug tests weren’t working is that the method used could be flawed. If this is so, then schools should concentrate more on the more effective means of preventing steroid abuse and that is to fortify their awareness campaign. Peer pressure is a big factor in drug use and if the kids know the damage that it can do to their lives, they would be wise to avoid these substances.
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