Steroids and Our Youth

 

Almost all sports fans are aware of the anabolic steroid scandals going on in professional sports. Unfortunately, the use of performance enhancing drugs is not only an epidemic in professional sports, but also at the high school sports fields. Even with the increased awareness regarding the danger that comes with anabolic steroid use, the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) reported that “2.2% of high school seniors reported using anabolic/androgenic steroids”. Most of the students who chose to use anabolic steroids were probably athletes and hoped to use anabolic steroids in order to enhance their performance and strength, as anabolic steroids will synthetically and drastically raise the testosterone level of the user and create unnatural strength gains. The 2.2% of high school seniors that use steroids do not know the serious and sometimes irreversible affects that anabolic steroids can have on the body such as “hormone imbalances, halted growth in teenagers, as well as liver and kidney tumors.”

Unfortunately, steroids are not uncommon even amongst professional athletes. Some of the best and most influential athletes in the world including Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, and Marion Jones have either openly admitted or have been linked to steroid use. Since these athletes are idolized by many children who wish to follow in their footsteps, children may feel that steroid use is acceptable since no physical harm is initially seen by the viewer.

 Undoubtedly, every athlete wishes to be bigger, faster and stronger in order to be the best at their particular sport. In high school aged children, being successful at a sport may potentially yield a college scholarship, while a professional athlete may be awarded a lucrative contract for being a valuable player. With this in mind, it is easy to understand why some athletes will risk taking steroids in order to have the “edge” over their competitors.  With the many risks that accompany the use of anabolic steroids, the NIDA website has provided resources in order to reduce the use of steroids among young adults.  For example, ATLAS (athletes training and learning to avoid steroids) is a program designed for young athletes by the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. This program is intended to work with coaches as well as athletes in hopes of making a safe alternative to steroid use through proper nutrition.

http://www.drugabuse.gov/drugpages/steroids.html