New Jersey moves to curb Steroid use by Police

[right2bfree]

New Jersey moves to curb steroid use by police
Reuters

by Aman Ali

Mon Jan 10, 5:42 pm ET

NEW YORK (Reuters) – Lawmakers in New Jersey are considering measures that would crack down on steroid use by police and firefighters, some of whom abuse the drugs in their efforts to keep physically fit, experts say.

The state Assembly bills introduced on Monday, believed to be the first of their kind in the nation, would require health evaluations before law enforcement could be prescribed anabolic steroids and growth hormones, and would add such drugs to a list of substances for which law enforcement employees are randomly tested.

"This is focused on uniformed public employees, but this is really a nationwide problem," said Assemblyman John McKeon, the Deputy Speaker who introduced the bills."A lot of these anti-aging clinics and charlatans are selling these products, and we need to examine the long-term health problems." The National Conference on State Legislatures said it did not know of any similar legislation in other states and New Jersey's measures could be the first in the nation. Most steroid laws regulate high school athletes, it said.

Law enforcement steroid use is a problem around the country and, given that steroid use can cause aggression, can invite problems for police, said Larry Gaines, chairman of the Department of Criminal Justice at California State University in San Bernadino, California.
"Aggression is not very common but nonetheless it's a possible problem," Gaines said. "If it does occur, you could see lawsuits against police departments regarding citizens injured from steroid rage.

More:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/us_newjersey_steroids

[Tunkamerica]

1. A nationwide problem, but a local catasttrophe judging from Jersey Shore.