" This peer pressure could begin in high school sports when teens are extremely interested in performing their best to compete for college scholarships. Because the big leaguers to it, they think it is OK to do it too, so the practice could start early for many athletes. If they give into the pressure in high school or college, chances are they will give into the same peer pressure in the big leagues, where the results are even more important to their lifestyles and careers.

There is another problem with the widespread steroid use in baseball. It is affecting the youth of the country because it seems to be swept under the rug by MLB. Another writer notes, "Because adolescents frequently idolize professional athletes, whom they observe earning millions of dollars and living glamorous lifestyles, they might be inclined to experiment with the drugs professionals have been known to use."

The league has a responsibility to these young people who look up to the athletes as heroes, and they have a responsibility to the athletes themselves.

It may seem silly, but the drug penalties are much harsher in the minor leagues, where you might think they would not be. Another writer notes, "A third difference is that the discipline for a first-time offender in the minor leagues is a 15-game suspension without pay, 30 games for a second offense, 60 games for a third offense, and a one-year suspension for a fourth offense."

It doesn't make sense that major leaguers face far fewer penalties for drug and steroid use, when they have much more incentive and pressure to use them. Instead, they have regulations that are easily ignored or manipulated, and they really have few consequences if they are caught.

Because of the peer pressure and the incentives, MLB really needs to step up to the plate and create much harsher penalties for players who use steroids. They are setting a terrible example for young people today, and they are devaluing their sport. The playing field should be level for all the players, and they should not be able to set new records and create statistics that are based on steroids, rather than their own personal abilities. it's the league's responsibility to make the penalties harsher and to make sure the players know the consequences of their actions. The league is far too lenient with these players, and the players are far too susceptible to peer pressure to make the right decisions. In addition, the player's union, which helped put the current drug-testing plan together, should also do the right thing and call for harsher standards. They think they are protecting the players, but they are really making the game less trustworthy and enjoyable. The players are playing for records and for their own selfish needs, and not for a love of the game or what it used to represent.

Peer pressure is one of the biggest reasons that steroid use is so prevalent in baseball. A player sees his teammate using steroids, setting records, and gaining recognition, and he wants the same thing for himself. In addition, players are under intense pressure to perform, or they could lose their entire career. They use steroids because other people on the team are using them, management looks the other way, and they know that chances are they won't get caught. The system is broken, and it is up to the league to fix it. There will always be players that get by on only their talent, but there will always be others that will do just about anything to increase their chances of success. These players influence the players around them, help them make poor choices, and never own up to the problem. MLB is letting its players and fans down by not addressing this problem and making it go away.