Story on North Texas Steroid Summit sponsored by DEA
http://www.wfaa.com/s/dws/news/city/...ids.22724.html Official urges Texas to lead steroid fight 01:18 PM CST on Tuesday, March 1, 2005 By GARY JACOBSON and GREGG JONES / The Dallas Morning News
PLANO – The head of the National Federation of State High School Associations encouraged Texas to become the nation's model for combating steroid abuse by students, which he called a "significant problem."
Texas could become the "beacon ... to take this message across the country," Robert Kanaby, executive director of the federation, told about 400 educators and law enforcement officials at the North Texas Steroid Summit at Plano Centre on Monday.
The summit was organized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, the University Interscholastic League and Region 10 Education Service Center. Region 10 represents 81 school districts and 31 charter schools in a nine-county area.
Jill Shugart, interim executive director for Region 10, said summit planning began about six months ago because of growing concern, particularly among football coaches.
"We all know today's topic is very timely," Dr. Shugart told the crowd. "We didn't know when planning began just how timely it would be."
Dr. Shugart referred to recent revelations that nine Colleyville Heritage athletes used steroids and that they allegedly shared an adult dealer with students at Southlake Carroll and Grapevine high schools.
Steroids can cause many side effects, including liver damage and depression. They are illegal to possess without a doctor's prescription and are banned in athletic competition because they give an unfair advantage.
In an interview, Mr. Kanaby said fighting steroid use would take a coordinated effort among law enforcement agencies, schools and state athletic associations, such as the UIL.
The UIL is the largest state athletic association – based on students participating – in the country.
UIL executive director Bill Farney said combating steroids would be a top priority. "There is an opportunity to be a leader here," said Dr. Farney, who attended the morning sessions of the summit.
UIL athletic director Charles Breithaupt said his concern about steroids has grown in the last month, since
The Dallas Morning News began publishing the results of an investigation into high school steroid use.
"It's an issue that we cannot afford to ignore," Dr. Breithaupt said. "Even if it's just one student, we have to be serious about stamping it out."
Dr. Breithaupt said he has recently visited with officials from the National Collegiate Athletic Association and the Big 12 Conference about their testing programs.
But testing by itself is not the answer, Dr. Breithaupt and others at the summit said. Prevention begins with educating students and community awareness, said Linn Goldberg, a steroid expert and professor of medicine in Portland, Ore.
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