Hooton Story Encourages Students To Avoid Steroids

March 16, 2010 by Josh Morgan

Taylor Hooton appeared to have the world in the palm of his hand. The 16-year-old was a star athlete, good looking, and well liked by his peers.
Coaches told him that, to get better, he needed to get bigger for his senior year of high school, so he took a short cut and turned to anabolic steroids. This led him down the road of depression and, ultimately, Hooton took his own life.
His family started the Taylor Hooton Foundation to help educate the public about the risks of anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs. Members of the foundation came to Cheshire last week to talk about their issues with the public. Around 15 members of the public attended the March 4 meeting, which included school administrators, coaches, and prevention specialists.
"Honestly, not a lot of us knew all that much about it," explained Sarah Bourdon, project coordinator with the Cheshire Coalition to Stop Underage Drinking. "If the professionals don't know, then the parents probably don't know either."
When talking about prevention, Bourdon said the focus is on drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, but never on steroids.
Even items that can be found over the counter at health food stores can be damaging to youths, but many aren't aware of what they are putting into their bodies, so parents, coaches and teachers need to help make them more cognizant.
"This is not an issue you hear a lot about," she said. "It's a prevalent substance and has become acceptable in our culture."
Bourdon points to multi-millionaire superstar athletes who have used, or are under the suspicion of using, performance enhancing drugs and anabolic steroids, without much consequence other than fame and fortune.
"It's kind of accepted now, isn't it," she said.
But, it's more than just athletes who are using anabolic steroids, Bourdon said. She explained that students as early as middle school are using supplements, not to throw a ball farther, but to look better. Even young females are experimenting with steroids for weight loss.
"It always goes back to body image," Bourdon stated. "Anyone could be doing it."
Resident Chris Brown attended the lecture with his son and said he was surprised at how many people were trying steroids, especially high school and even middle school students. He admitted that he had "no idea" about the prevalence of anabolic steroids before the meeting, and was even more surprised that females are using it as well. According to the Hooton Foundation, around six percent, or one million high school students, will try steroids this year.
"I found out that they use it as a quick and easy way to improve their performance or appearance," Brown said. "I always thought this was a problem with athletes, but other people are using the stuff as well."
As a parent, Brown believes it is his duty to talk to his children about the risks of drugs and alcohol, and, now, anabolic steroids have been added to the list. He was happy his oldest son was with him at the meeting, as he felt "we both learned a lot" from being there.
"Now, I absolutely will bring this up to my kids," Brown said.
Cheshire High School Athletic Director Steve Trifone was familiar with the Taylor Hooton story after attending a seminar last spring, but last week's meeting was a little more detailed, he acknowledged. Trifone believes most people are not too aware that some students abuse steroids and performance drugs.
"People are well versed with alcohol, tobacco, and drugs but, with this issue, it doesn't really click," he explained. "Getting more exposure into school, for coaches and parents, is a great idea."
Trifone understood that students would be using steroids across the nation, so it has to become part of the regular conversation from adults to children. In Connecticut, Trifone said, the state puts out regulations for use and possession of performance enhancing drugs.
If an athlete is suspected of use, they have to prove to the school and state that they are not on steroids. If they are found in possession of the drugs, they are suspended for a full year from athletic activities. In addition, that athlete's team is also suspended from post-season play for one full year.
"This takes place at the high school level, even the middle school level, and this needed to be added into the conversation with our kids," Trifone said. "Even if they aren't athletes, they could be using — even females — and a lot of supplements are available right over the counter."
More information on the Foundation, including facts about steroids and performance enhancing drugs, can be found online at www.taylorhooton.org.