It’s reasonable to assume there are some student athletes at our school that use street drugs like marijuana, and some use Performance Enhancing Drugs (PEDs) like steroids. Both of these are prohibited in Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) guidelines. Usings PEDs during sporting events can negatively impact the games, scoring, and the athletes ability to play. MSHSAA sends a clear message that cheating, in any form, will not be tolerated.
Drug testing would level the playing fields by ensuring that no athlete should gain an unfair advantage through the use of PEDs. Without testing, students who are using PEDs could potentially dominate competitions, leaving the athletes that play by the rules at a disadvantage. The use of PEDs not only affects the student, but also harms the reputation of the team and school.
MSHSAA should require student athletes to be drug tested in order to ensure fairness in the sports, safety amongst the players, and avoid long-term health issues for the young student athletes.
Participation in sports is a privilege to students, allowing them to understand teamwork and develop a close relationship with their teammates and coaches. With privilege comes responsibility, where students are in charge of staying out of trouble and taking care of their bodies. This would be teaching students important life lessons like responsibility, discipline, and accountability.
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, over 10 percent of high school seniors report using anabolic steroids or other PEDs at some point in their high school years. With our school’s highly competitive environment, it’s likely that this issue is more prevalent where the pressure to perform is more intense. It is for this reason that some students turn to PEDs, or street drugs, to “take the edge off” or enhance their performance entirely.
Many PEDs, including steroids, stimulants, and other illicit substances, have side effects that can harm athletes both physically and mentally. These substances can stunt growth, damage organs, and increase the risk of injury because of the rapid physical changes they’re inducing. Some even have long-term effects such as cardiovascular issues, hormonal imbalances, and can cause severe mental disorders.
Teenager’s bodies are still developing. Most PEDs are man-made steroids that use synthetic hormones. Drug testing would act as a deterrent and also serve as a safety measure for student athletes.
MSHSAA can implement this by making student athletes sign a contract before they join the team stating that they consent to being drug tested randomly throughout the season with or without suspicion. If they don’t sign the contract, they can’t join the team. According to FindLaw, the United States Supreme Court has found that random drug testing of student-athletes is not a violation of privacy. This is under the interpretation of the fourth amendment.
School districts are responsible for funding their own drug testing programs. With our school district containing five high schools, it will be tough to cut the cost. There are some different approaches to this situation such as applying for a grant that would fund the process, having student athletes pay $15 to $35 to be drug tested when they sign the consent form, or hiring a company to do the process while we provide the space for it.
According to MSHSAA, if someone were to test positive for drugs, they would be suspended from the team for 30 calendar days. If the student’s activity is not in session at that time, then the 30 days will begin once the season starts.
Some coaches feel strongly about drug testing high school athletes and believe that it would prepare them for college where the NCAA mandates randomized drug testing.
Schools have a duty to prioritize the physical and mental well being of their students, as well as keep an even playing ground during competitions. Mandatory drug testing would be a proactive step toward preventing students from using PEDs and keeping them safe and in good physical condition.
