Pain meds and power bars

With the rise in steroid use and athletes going to the very limit with over the counter supplements that can jeopardize their health and NCAA eligibility, I was wondering why things of this nature happen. One thing I’ve notice is the use of pain medicines, supplements, power bars, and so forth by today’s high school athletes. During most games you’ll see parents passing a few Ibuprofen or aspirin on to their son. It was common to see players “munching down” power bars and Gatorade between innings. I know this is far fetched to suggest this might be a problem but I actually felt this was sending the wrong message during my son’s high school years. When players were fatigued I’ve heard parents suggest: “Drink this “Surge” it will give you some energy”. I heard parents say that when their son was “wound up” after a mid week game and he needed to get some rest, they would give him a couple of Ibuprofens to help him relax so he could get a better night’s sleep. I wonder if we’re sending a message that if the body isn’t working to perfection, there is something available in a bottle or a bar to make it feel or work better. While I don’t suggest we ban these items or even discourage their use, I do think we should explain to our sons that there is no quick fix for pain or fatigue and substituting an “energy supplement” for a balanced meal is a recipe for damage to his body. Your thoughts?
Fungo