The short
history of steroid testing in public schools has yielded little, if
anything. In the handful of local school districts that already test
for steroids, no positive test has been reported. The same is true for
limited state programs in Florida and New Jersey.
"It's
like looking for a needle in a haystack," said Lloyd Johnston, a noted
researcher at the University of Michigan. "My guess is that the payoff
relative to the cost won't be high."
Some critics also
question the state's policy decision to go after steroids when the use
of other illegal drugs, including marijuana, heroin and prescription
drugs, is far more common among teenagers. The state's steroid tests
will cost up to $140 each, compared with $15 for most other drug tests.
But state lawmakers who championed the drive to test up to
50,000 athletes over the next two years say catching users wasn't their
main goal. They hope the state's investment pays off as a powerful
deterrent.
"The momentum is there," said state Sen. Kyle
Janek, R-Houston, Senate sponsor of the steroids bill that passed last
year. "With all the attention to the professional athletes and steroids
use, it's out there for everyone to see. It won't be tolerated." Continue Reading...
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