Steroids play a literal function in Gym Candy—they make Mick stronger, faster and unstoppable on the field—but they also represent the sorts of tempting shortcuts that come at the cost of personal integrity. When an illegal drug is taken in order to win at a game—particularly at the high-school level—the pursuit of success has become pathologized. When the key to victory on the field comes with the risk of rage, suicidal depression, breast tissue, and more, it is clear that Mick over-prioritizes the sport. 

Mick says, “There’s something incredible about pulling a helmet on just before a game […] Your vision narrows, and the whole world shrinks. You can’t hear much of what goes on outside you, but you can hear yourself breathe and you can feel yourself sweat” (196). Mick’s helmet is a protection on the field, but it can also be seen dually as a symbol of isolation and identity, forcing one to focus on themselves first, and most. Mick is most comfortable on the football field. When he takes the helmet off after a game, he is vulnerable again, because he has to return to the rest of his life, which is more uncertain than the game.