Hoots Corner

Of the many relationships we've developed since forming this organization, none have been more important than the one than we've developed with Dick Butkus and his team.  Everyone knows Dick's reputation as a Hall of Fame NFL Player, but I've gotten to know him as a caring father and role model.

After becoming personally exposed to the youth steroid problem, he has dedicated much of his life to helping us battle this scourge.  One of his marks of success is the steroid testing legislation which was recently signed into law in Illinois.

Don

8/25/2009, Illinois

Hall of Fame football player Dick Butkus has been looked up to by many Illinois residents over the years. From his days of playing high school ball at Chicago Vocational, to his college exploits at the University of Illinois and then domination from his linebacking position in the NFL, Butkus has been, and has inspired people far and wide.

Now Butkus has helped to inspire a piece of Illinois legislation from his desires to raise awareness about the use of performance-enhancing drugs by high school youths.

Earlier this month, Illinois Governor Pat Quinn signed House Bill 272 into law. It was a piece of legislation designed by State Representative Jack D. Franks (D-Woodstock) which was crafted after consulting Butkus.

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In a piece published today, Dr. Richard Melloni concludes that the use of anabolic steroids fuel the engine of aggession, that "Steroids step on the gas for aggression."

Furthermore, he suggests that since the adolescent brain is much more adaptable and pliable than the brain of an adult, that "steriods could change the trajectory if administered during development" and that the brain "may never recover."

“If you hit the right areas of the brain at the right time, you make permanent changes,” Melloni concludes from the converging evidence.

Don

8/25/2009

Anabolic steroids not only turn teenagers more aggressive but also keep them stay aggressive, as per new findings published in an issue of Behavioral Neuroscience. The traits of aggressiveness may wear off ultimately but the lasting repercussions can be experienced by the developing brain by then.

It was also found out that nearly half a million students, studying in 8th and 10th grades, abuse anabolic-androgenic steroid every year as per estimates from the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

Richard Melloni Jr., PhD, of Northeastern University in Boston, remarked that these study findings might be able to provide a new dimensional approach for doctors when it comes to finding effective ways to stand against the much-talked and debated relationship between steroid abuse and aggressiveness.

Autopsy revealed that the outward aggressiveness correlated with inner changes in the brain. When the drugged hamsters were hostile hosts, a part of their brains called the anterior hypothalamus pumped out more of a neurotransmitter called vasopressin. By three weeks of withdrawal, vasopressin levels subsided in parallel with the aggressive behavior. The anterior hypothalamus regulates aggression and social behavior. Thus, vasopressin - already known to stimulate that area - appears to fuel the engine of aggression. And, says Melloni, “Steroids step on the gas for agression.”

Thus, the neuroscientists conclude that the aggressiveness triggered by anabolic steroids, although reversible, may last long enough to create serious behavioral problems for adults. Because this part of the rodent and human nervous systems are similar, researchers generalize their findings to humans. As a result, Melloni and his colleagues speculate that anabolic steroids can dramatically shorten teenage fuses (not known for length under the best of circumstances) and make young people “pop off” for years, a danger to themselves and to others. Melloni and others researchers also are concerned that drug use during a critical window in brain development can change their wiring for good. He says, “Because the developing brain is more adaptable and pliable, steroids could change the trajectory if administered during development.” His lab is releasing other new findings, as yet unpublished, that the serotonin system - implicated in depression - may never recover.

“If you hit the right areas of the brain at the right time, you make permanent changes,” Melloni concludes from the converging evidence.

I was very pleased to read The Dallas Morning News' editorial blog supporting the value of steroid testing in the State of Texas.  Micheal Landauer, the author of this editorial, "gets it".  He clearly understands that the primary value of the testing program is in the deterrent effect that it has on kids.  And that this program is working!

Don

Dallas Morning News, 8/21/2009

Today's news story says that some people are questioning the high school steroid testing program because only 19 kids have been caught using steroids. Another 130 or so have more or less been caught by virtue of skipping the testing and accepting the punishment for a failed test. Is that worth millions of tax dollars?

Well, conservatives looking for budget cuts said no and slashed the budget for testing, but I think the message has been sent and as long as we continue some level of testing, kids will know that they may get caught. Another way to look at this is that far more high school students in Texas have been caught and punished than Major League Baseball stars, and it seems like we get a teary-eyed press conference on that level every few months.

The point is that we cannot just look the other way from cheating. It costs millions of dollars to screen athletes, and the hope is that none will be caught. But one year's statistics aren't the point. It's about sending the message to kids that we're watching, not just to catch them, but to keep them safe.

The story doesn't say, but how many steroid-related cases of depression and suicide were reported this year? Maybe that's unkowable. Maybe the impact overall is unkowable. Keep testing. 

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The current debate over the success of the Texas steroid testing program reminds me of the story of the inner city school that had a gun violence problem.  To address the problem, school officials put up metal detectors at each entrance.  A year later, when gun violence had dropped to zero, did the school officials question their investment and yield to those who argued that "we never had a gun problem in the first place"?  Or to those who argue that we might hurt our children's feelings because we're showing them that we don't trust them?  Of course not!

Surveys designed to determine drug usage levels have ALL demonstrated usage rates in the 4-6% range, higher than drugs like heroin, cocaine, methamphetimines, and other drugs.  That is the number of kids that ADMIT that they've been using anabolic steroids.  We've argued all along that the purpose of the testing program is to deter kids from using these drugs.  To provide our best and brightest kids a reason to say "no".

I should also comment about the tests themselves.  While there are over 100 different types of steroids, our program only tests for 10.  We should logically ask ourselves, "did we pick the right 10 steroids to test for"?

Finally, I cannot resist responding to Dr. Diane Elliot who is quoted in this article saying that testing may actually harm the camaraderie between a player and coach, who has an educational role to play in curbing abuse. “It gets the kids thinking about people in the school like you might think about traffic cops,” Elliot said. “It gives kids a real mixed message: ‘Do you trust me or not?’.” 

To return to the gun violence example, should we take down the metal detectors because "someone's feelings might get hurt"?  Or do we stick with a program that has proven itself to be effective in protecting the health and lives of our children?

Don

Dallas Morning News, 8/21/2009

More than a year has passed since the state implemented one of the world’s most ambitious steroids testing programs at Texas high schools. The results so far: $6 million spent to test 45,193 student athletes, 19 of whom came up positive.

That last number, depending on your perspective, either refutes the need for testing or validates it as a successful deterrent.

“We have a program that proved it worked by virtue of the fact that so few kids were caught doing steroids,” said Don Hooton, founder of the Plano-based Taylor Hooton Foundation, which raises steroids awareness. “For those that are making the argument that it proves we don’t have a steroid problem is dangerously naive.”

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Although this article from Mesomorphosis.com was posted last year, the information is so important that I thought it important (critical) to share with you on our site again.  For those youth that are visiting our site to learn the truth about anabolic steroids, it is crucial that you understand what it is that you are REALLY putting into your body when you acquire your anabolic steroids.

The information in this article should scare everyone!

Don

www.mesomophosis.com

Most bodybuilders who use anabolic steroids manufactured by underground labs (UGLs) in the United States are primarily concerned with whether or not the product is accurately dosed with the anabolic steroid listed on the label. Some more health conscious steroid users are also concerned about potential health risks arising from the contamination of UGL steroid products with bateria and/or heavy metals. Fortunately, bacterial contamination is not a common problem since most UGLs effectively sterilize the product by adding ingredients such as benzyl alcohol, etc. However, few people have actually considered the potential toxicity of using anabolic steroids contaminated with heavy metals. Given that most of the steroid powder is illicitly imported from China, the possibility of contamination with lead, tin, mercury, arsenic, etc. is a real possibility.

William Llewellyn, author of the authoritative Anabolics 2007 and editor of Body of Science, recently completed a project designed to help consumers of UGL anabolic steroids to better assess the degree of toxic heavy metal contamination in underground steroids. 

A total of 14 underground steroid samples were selected for laboratory testing, which included products from Amplio Labs, British Dragon, Diamond Pharma, Generic Anabolics, Generic Pharma, Lizard Laboratories, Medical Inc., Microbiological Labs, Nordic Supplements, Shark Laboratories, SWE Supplements, and Troy Labs. Included in this list were drugs that were made from small underground manufacturers, mid-level operations, and even producers large enough to have their items assembled under contract by drug manufacturing facilities. All 14 samples were analyzed at a registered and licensed facility in the U.S.

The results of the heavy metals tests revealed that 21% of anabolic steroid products from underground labs were contaminated with toxic heavy metals.

William Llewellyn also examined whether the “actual dosage” of anabolic steroids in the UGL products approximately “label claims” of stated ingredient. He tested 1 methandrostenolone product, 2 testosterone enanthate products, 1 testosterone propionate product, 2 boldenone undecylenate products, 3 testosterone cypionate products, 1 trenbolone hexahydro product, 1 trenbolone enanthate product, 1 nandrolone decanoate product and 2 methenolone enanthate products. 

The quality control of the UGL steroids was terrible. Results revealed that 64% of the UGL steroids did not meet label claims either underdosed or overdosed by greater than 20%. Most were slightly underdosed, one contained no active ingredients, and a few were significantly overdose (by as much as 459%)! Additional information is available on the Body of Science website.

High school student-athletes will be subject to random testing for steroids and other banned performance-enhancing substances throughout the school year under a new law that Gov. Pat Quinn signed on Friday.

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A coach in the William S. Hart Union High School District said he has had players who have taken steroids.

This coach, who requested anonymity, said he has confronted multiple players who he suspected of taking steroids and has even contacted their parents to inform them of his suspicions.

“If any coach in this district believes (kids) aren’t doing anything, taking (human growth hormones) or steroids, we’re living in a world where we’re in trouble,” the coach said. “These kids do stuff like this and you have to be aware of it.”

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