Information about Performance Enhancing Drugs

Dear Parents and Students:

Recent news coverage and investigations into nutritional supplements and anabolic steroids has generated much discussion about the potential dangers associated with these products. Current information suggests that teen and pre-teen use of these supplements is on the rise as young athletes strive for a competitive edge over opponents. “Performance enhancement supplements” is an umbrella phrase that includes a broad range of chemical substances. Some, like anabolic steroids, clearly fall under governmental control and the school’s drug and alcohol policy. However, other performance enhancement products generally available at retail outlets do not fall under the authority of any governmental agency and their possession, use, and distribution on school property or at school functions was unclear—until now.

The Warren Hills Board of Education recognizes that performance enhancement supplements may be dangerous to an individual’s well being and has therefore enacted a policy prohibiting possession, use, and distribution of these products on school property. For safety concerns, the school principal may suspend any student from school and/or athletics for violation of this policy. Moreover, the principal may require a parent conference with the Student Assistance Coordinator, the Athletic Director, the school athletic trainer, and the school nurse before the student’s return to school and activities.

These performance enhancement supplements are available in health food stores, vitamin shops, gyms, and on the Internet and marketed as bodybuilding or weight lifting enhancements. Although packaging information may assert “all natural” ingredients, they may be very dangerous for some individuals—especially young people. In fact, some retailers sell these products to minors in violation of manufacturer recommendations printed on the label. Examples of products prohibited by the policy include, but is not limited to, vitamins, creatine monohydrate, pro-hormones, synthetic hormones and any other product marketed as a supplement or performance enhancer.

Thank you for your kind attention to this matter. The full policy is available in the main office of each building. Please call the Student Assistance Coordinator with any questions.

An Article About Performance Enhancing Drugs

Harvard Study Raises Concerns About Performance Enhancement Supplements and Steroid use among Young People

By: Mr. Tim Downs, Student Assistance Coordinator

USA Today published an article on August 1, 2005, entitled, “Adolescents bulk up their bodies” where author Elizabeth Weise wrote about a Harvard University study that focused on young people’s use of steroids and performance enhancement supplements. According to Weise, the researchers found that body image and strength improvement were motivating factors for both boys and girls, which leads them to use such products as anabolic steroids, creatine, protein powders, and DHEA. In the article, researcher Alison Field, a Harvard Medical School professor, says, “protein powders are probably relatively safe, but steroids have known health affects, and much less is known about creatine and
growth hormones, particularly in young people.”

According to Weise, author Diane Neumark-Sztainer offers suggestions to parents for dealing with steroid and supplement use.

Parents can help solve the problem
• Avoid dieting and making weight-related comments.
• Model healthy (but not perfect) eating patterns and food choices.
• Focus less on weight; instead, focus on behaviors and health.
• Help your teen develop an identity beyond appearance (Stress the importance of your child’s traits, characteristics, and values).
• Establish a no-tolerance policy for weight teasing in your home.
• Provide a supportive environment with lots of talking and even more listening.

This article underscores the school district’s policy prohibiting the possession, use, and distribution of performance enhancement supplements on school grounds or at any school-sponsored event. The school district’s drug and alcohol policy addresses anabolic steroids. Please call the Student Assistance Coordinators, Mr. Tim Downs, at the high school or Mr. David Detrick at the middle school with any questions or help dealing with any issue raised in this article. The school district’s drug and alcohol policy and performance enhancement policy are available in the main office of each building.