The state's drug testing policy for police will be changed to allow, but not require, police departments to test officers for steroids, leaving police chiefs with the decision of whether to perform drug tests. Under the current policy, steroids are not on the list of drugs that can be tested.
"The costs, frankly, are and can be prohibitive," Dow said. "We think it's a balanced approach, addressing the costs involved but putting out the real message that we'll be looking at you."
Drug tests for muscle-building drugs must be sent out of state for analysis, at a cost of hundreds of dollars per test. On the other end, New Jersey paid more than $11 million in 2010 for steroid and hormone prescriptions for state employees.
Dow also added growth hormone to the list of prescriptions the state tracks and called for legislation to get tough on doctors who improperly prescribe. There will be heightened scrutiny and regulations for prescriptions paid for by state health insurance, but those won't affect an officer who pays for his prescription out-of-pocket.
Those who test positive will need a doctor's letter saying there's a legitimate medical reason for steroids or hormones. The Star-Ledger reported that the doctor who prescribed the drugs to 248 officers and firefighters used fake diagnoses.
"On a positive side, the attorney general was recognizing that the use of anabolic steroids is an issue and a problem among law enforcement," said Assemblyman John McKeon (D., Essex), who has introduced multiple pieces of legislation to address the problem. "Within the confines of her ability to put a policy in effect, I applaud the effort."
