Yesterday, February 26, at Towson High School, St. Joseph Medical Center President John K. Tolmie, State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Nancy S. Grasmick and Congressman Elijah E. Cummings announced the launch of Powered By ME!™, an awareness campaign about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing supplements. The campaign goal is to educate Maryland middle and high school students, parents, coaches and teachers about the side effects, dangers and alternatives to anabolic steroids and supplements.
Orthopaedic Associates, Towson Sports Medicine, Sheppard Pratt Health System, The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt, and St. Agnes HealthCare have joined the effort. Also, a blue ribbon panel of volunteer experts who represent coaches, teachers, parents, athletes and medical professionals has been established to support the public service campaign. Although the blue ribbon panelists are confident in identifying the problem, the solutions for improvement are not easy or clear. The campaign and panel plan to initiate surveys, conduct research, and encourage dialogue among parents, coaches, medical professionals and educators as they explore this public health program together.
The Powered By ME!™ campaign will educate Maryland’s communities with –
• An educational Web site www.PoweredByMeMD.com
• A telephone referral line for questions (410) 337-1337
• Production and placement of television public service announcements
• Placement of advertising
• Brochures and other collateral material
• Speakers bureaus and conference presentations
• Initiate surveys, conduct research, and encourage dialogue among stakeholders
According to Drs. Carla Laos and Jordan D. Metzel, who authored “Performance-Enhancing Drug Use in Young Athletes,” an increasing number of adolescents in high school and middle school are taking anabolic steroids and performance-enhancing supplements. A 2003 study by the Centers for Disease Control concluded that nearly one million high school students have at least tried steroids, triple the rate from 1993. A 2004 study by the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimated that nearly one half million eighth and tenth graders were using anabolic steroids. The Office of National Drug Control Policy conducted a survey in 2005 and reported that thirty percent of students in eighth through twelfth grades say that steroids were “fairly easy” or “very easy” to obtain.
Twenty-five percent of steroid users started taking them during their teenage years. Currently the supplement industry is estimated to generate $18 billion a year. In the 1990s the industry only brought in about $1.2 to $3 billion.
“It’s clear from the number of middle and high school students taking anabolic steroids that this is a growing problem,” said president of St. Joseph Medical Center, John K. Tolmie. “Our hope is that this campaign will shed light on the facts about anabolic steroid use. Parents need to know how children get them, why they take them, the dangerous side effects, and learn about realistic alternatives. Students need to understand that they are putting themselves at risk if they choose to take anabolic steroids.”
“Some professional athletes have set a very bad example for our country’s youth. It is so important that we educate ou