Drug tests a good idea for prep athletes

Drugs have always been a big problem in society, and it’s an ever-increasing problem for kids at the middle school and high school level. Drugs present a constant temptation to our youth, and it’s not just the recreational drugs that are a problem.

Prescription drug use is at an all time high among teenagers and with the problem increasing, teens need all the deterrent they can get. But now the state of Tennessee’s attorney general said in his opinion schools cannot randomly drug test, explaining it violates a state statute.

With that said, are we now giving high school athletes the green light to take drugs ‘ and in some cases, steroids?

Some high school athletes who are serious about their sport and have an opportunity to play ball in college will do almost anything to increase their chances of playing at the next level.

I read somewhere the question isn’t why kids take steroids. Rather it’s why the majority of teens who want to be college or professional athletes don’t take them, and why we do nothing to attempt to stop the minority who do.

The Warren County school system has been drug testing athletes for 14 or 15 years, and in my opinion it’s been a positive program. If you’re going to represent the school, then passing a drug test and keeping your grades up should be top priority.

It’s not much different than a business doing a mandatory drug test before hiring you at a new job. But the one big difference is these kids are out physically pushing their bodies to extreme limits. And when a person’s body is under the influence of drugs, this can be a dangerous ‘ and sometimes deadly ‘ interaction.

I find it interesting that the TSSAA has no mandatory drug testing policy and no testing for steroid use. It has been left up to each individual school system. And I don’t know of any school system in Tennessee who has a steroid testing policy.

I don’t think steroid use has ever been a problem here in Warren County, but it has reared its ugly head in other high school athletic programs in Tennessee and across the country.

I know the subject has come up on numerous occasions. But after so much has been said over the last couple of weeks on the death of Chris Beniot and his steroid use, people need to be reminded once again of the dangerous consequences.

A recent study shows steroid use among high school athletes is once again on the rise. Professional sports leagues are now testing and college programs have been testing for years. So why not at the high school level.

I’m sure there are several reasons officials could come up with, and none of them would be a good one when you’re talking about saving someone’s life.

The main reason is cost. Do you think the TSSAA is going shell out the money to test every athlete? And programs who have a tradition of winning aren’t about to jeopardize future championships until someone gets tough on mandatory drug testing for all high school athletes.

One state has finally taken the lead, and in the fall of 2006 started testing all its high school athletes for steroid use.

New Jersey governor Richard Codey got the ball rolling and is determined to put a stop to the growing health problem in his state.

The state of Tennessee is heading in the wrong direction.

(More on this issue, 3-B)