Something to think about the next time you read about the government parading baseball players on trial for steroid use or the latest steroids in sport scandal or cops on steroids investigation is “who benefits financially from all the hysteria generated over the evils of steroids?” When an athlete is caught doping, there are anti-doping agencies and anti-steroid education programs out there looking to capitalize with government funding. When a high school athlete is caught using steroids, there are drug-testing companies out there seeking to secure a contract for steroid testing in high schools. The steroid stories you read in the paper often result in a knee-jerk reaction of taxpayer money being spent.
The latest company to be awarded taxpayer funds due to a steroid-drive government program is Optimum Technology of Columbus, Ohio. They were awarded a $775,000 contract to manage and operate the New Jersey Prescription Monitoring Program. The electronic database intended to monitor “controlled dangerous substances” has been in the works for years. It was only recently that a Star-Ledger investigative report into steroid and human growth hormone (hGH) use by law enforcement personnel spurred legislators into action.
The previous version of the electronic prescription monitoring program did not require that pharmacists report HGH prescriptions since HGH is not on the federal Controlled Substances list. The Star-Ledger investigation provided the impetus for legislators to jump on the anti-steroid, anti-performance-enhancement drug bandwagon; they quickly voted to change reporting requirement for HGH. The new legislation quickly passed and additional taxpayer funds went out the door to fund another program aimed at reducing the use of PEDs.
Steroid hysteria. One way to get results from your elected representatives. Unfortunately, the main result is greater spending and not reduced steroids and PED use.
About Millard Baker