can make an athlete recover from the weight room workouts and contribute to his strength and fitness is alluring”, says athlete Gab Kapler. Whether right or wrong the athletes who use anabolic steroids have an argumentative point, the fastest and strongest will prevail so who would turn down a substance that could turn them into a super athlete. Athletes are at least vulnerable as the rest of society; outstanding athletes may suffer a particular vulnerability. In an effort to excel competitively, often beginning in his or her teens, the skilled athlete is often subject to unusual degrees of stress-both internal and external. (Wadler p.14) For many, steroid abuse has been a method of trying to lessen that stress.Many communities are trying to work fast to stop the addiction before it goes to far they are having meetings with parents and even little league coaches to talk about how to play in a non stressful environment. Many actions have been taken; police athletic leagues have been put together and also some high school programs such as the ATLAS program. It stands for “ The Adolescents Training and Learning to Avoid Steroids”. It was started to monitor high school athletics but has moved to watch all aspects of high school. In ATLAS’s classroom component, football coaches and student leaders conduct seven highly interactive sessions that explore the effects of steroids, the elements of sports nutrition, and strength training alternatives to steroid use. (Mathias p.2) “The ATLAS program is totally voluntary and high students don’t receive any credit, so it better be entertaining”. The prevention class gives student athletes the knowledge and skills to resist steroid use and achieve their athletic goals in more effective, healthier ways. (Mathias p.4) It might be too late for the athletes who have already let there guards down to the world of drugs but for those who are coming up in th...
