TAYLOR HOOTON FOUNDATION
The rising trend of using Appearance and Performance Enhancing Drugs (APEDs) poses a serious concern among adolescents today. Research indicates that more than 1.5 million teenagers confess to having used anabolic steroids, with the average age for initial use being just 15.
The Taylor Hooton Foundation was established in 2004 by the family of Taylor Hooton, a talented young baseball player whose journey with steroid use tragically culminated in his suicide. Don Hooton, Taylor’s father and the foundation’s president, reflects that he now recognizes the various warning signs of steroid use that he had overlooked at the time. Studies reveal that a staggering 85% of high school students have never engaged in a dialogue with an adult regarding the risks associated with steroid use.
The foundation is dedicated to raising awareness among teens, parents, educators, and coaches about the perils of APEDs. They emphasize the importance of parents being informed and having open, honest discussions with their children about this critical issue. Their outreach program, Hoot’s Chalk Talk, is offered to schools, universities, and organizations. Spencer Chaiken, a sophomore from Hebron High School, expressed his thoughts after attending the program last year: “The potential dangers of using steroids aren’t worth the price of any athletic success. No high school sports performance is worth it.”
Equally alarming is the fact that close to half of steroid users are not athletes but rather teens striving for a more athletic appearance. These individuals are often referred to as “mirror athletes.”
The inaugural All Star Gala, titled One Glamorous Night, to benefit the Taylor Hooton Foundation, is scheduled for March 28, 2015. For further details about this event, visit taylorhooton.org or www.Themerrythought.net.
Taylor Hooton lost his life at the young age of 17 in 2003. His parents, Don and Gwen Hooton, believe that his passing stemmed from depression linked to steroid use. Just a year prior, he boasted a 3.8 GPA, was sociable, had many friends, and shone as a star pitcher on the Plano West High School junior varsity baseball team.
