Steroids

Steroids and Teens

What Steroids Can Do To You:
An Article for Parents and Teens

Over the past decade, anabolic steroid abuse became a national concern. These drugs are used illicitly by weightlifters, bodybuilders, long-distance runners, cyclists and others who claim that these drugs give them a competitive advantage and/or improve their physical appearance.

Overall youth steroid use remains alarmingly high. According to the 1999 Monitoring the Future Study, the percentage of 8th, 10th and 12th graders who reported using steroids at least once in their lives has increased steadily over the past four years (an average of 1.8 percent in 1996, 2.1 percent in 1997, 2.3 percent in 1998 and 2.8 percent in 1999).

The truth is, the use of steroids is a growing problem among today’s teenagers, who among other things get a large portion of their misunderstood information from the fitness industry and “muscle magazines.” While it is evident that there exists a growing use of steroids, there most definitely is no indication that the issue is going to fade away without some kind of intervention. It should be noted that there are many obvious risks and side effects from teen steroid abuse. Several of these side effects include:

Sterility
Premature ossification (closing over) of growth plates in long bones (stunted growth)
Aggressiveness
Acne
Connective tissue injury (irreversible)
Masculinization (among women)

Even scarier, there is evidence that teens today are more afraid of NOT experimenting with and using steroids. It is crucial to understand the reasons if we are to attempt to find a solution.
Some of the reasons that teens gave were:

Not making the sports team
Not meeting peer pressure and demands
Not "getting the girls”
Not being able to compete with others who are using steroids
Not looking as good as you could

Today’s teens have seen many of their athletic role models admit to some form of steroid use at some time in their lives. This may be giving them mixed messages. It may suggest that steroid use is the necessary ingredient to developing a career in sports.

Many of these same teens also feel they are invincible--able to withstand any fear or reservations that may exist about the use of these drugs. In addition, they are reluctant to believe any warnings offered by the medical community and the media, who so often have conveyed alarmist attitudes toward steroid use.

Parents and coaches can also be found guilty of placing emphasis on young athletes:

They often push young athletes into sports development programs.
They glorify youngsters who are willing to risk their bodies and morals in order to win.
They demand that young athletes aspire to greatness at any cost.

Adults have a great impact (positive or negative) on the actions of teenagers, so it is crucial that parents and educators be aware of the impact of steroids on teenagers. Teenagers also have a great impact on the actions of other teens.

If you have a friend who is using steroids, talk to him; he just might listen to you.

There are also sociocultural factors that play a role in steroid use:

Locker-room talk becomes the occasion to pass along twisted information from one teen to another in order to justify drug use.
Taking risks is essential to the success of great athletes, where in order to be drafted and make million of dollars you must take chances (like steroids). These are common perceptions; be they right or wrong, they exist.
Group dynamics: wherein a group of guys will collectively agree to the positive effects of steroids. This dynamic occurs more easily than using one's independent judgment.

Ultimately, how will we control and compact the rampant use of these drugs?

The only viable option is to educate adults and teens, and to find alternatives to steroids so teens can opt for a less risky supplement. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) has set up a website at steroidabuse.org The NIDA is at nida.nih.gov. Also recommended is drugabuse.gov.


Other Supplements Popular Among Athletes:

Creatine

Creatine has become a very popular product with teen athletes. Annual sales total over $200 million. It is advertised as a natural product that will provide larger, more powerful muscles.

Creatine is actually an essential amino acid, meaning that it is a necessary nutrient for human beings. It can be produced by the body from other amino acids, such as arginine and glycine. It may also be provided in the diet: Creatine occurs naturally in fish, milk, meat and other foods.

Studies performed on adult athletes indicate that creatine may increase muscle mass, probably due to the retention of fluid. More importantly, the athlete who is undergoing intense exercise training and taking creatine may increase his power for short-term sports action, such as sprinting and playing football. Thus, it is very popular with high-school football players and track athletes. Some coaches, trainers and even parents have pushed this product on their athletes in the hope of producing winners.

So what is wrong with taking creatine?
Creatine has received very little scientific study. We do not know anything about its long-term effects. We do not know what doses are best and what is excessive. The doses kids take are varied and often mixed with other drugs or chemicals that have their own unknown effects. The stores that sell creatine have no idea how pure the product is, how much to use or when to stop.

We do know that creatine produces no improvement in long-term endurance activities. A number of side effects are possible, including abdominal pain, nausea, loose stools, increase in weight due to the retention of water, muscle cramps and muscle strain. Case reports indicate that dehydration and even death can occur when athletes take creatine and exercise in hot weather. Reduction of kidney function and enlargement of the heart muscle have been observed in kids. Additionally, creatine supplementation suppresses the body’s own production of creatine. We do not know what effects this may have on a growing child. There are simply too many unknowns about creatine at this time. It would be wise to stop the current hype.



DHEA

DHEA (dehydroepiandrosterone) is another chemical that is related to testosterone (and also estrogen) and promoted in nutrition stores. It is widely advertised as a wonder drug that will improve muscle size and strength, lessen depression, prevent heart disease and increase sex drive, among other unproved claims. A reputed fountain of youth, it has special appeal to adult athletes. Though hyped as a safe alternative to anabolic steroids, it is not safe and is linked to many anabolic-steroid-like side effects. Excessive hair growth and endometrial cancer are reported in women, while prostate cancer and permanent breast development are reported in men. Yes, this natural product is found in human adrenal glands. It is, however, a dangerous chemical. Young people and adults alike should be discouraged from using it.

Thanks go out to the National Institute on Drug Abuse for the use of their information.


Ephedra

Ephedra is one of the most dangerous of the dietary supplements. Ephedrine-containing products (ma huang, Chinese ephedra and Sida cordifolia) and Xenedrine are marketed to improve athletic performance and enhance weight loss.

Ephedrine is a central-nervous-system stimulant and decongestant that is structurally similar to amphetamines. Ephedrine is effective for relieving bronchial asthma, but increases heart rate and blood pressure. Contrary to popular belief, there is no good evidence that substances containing ephedrine enhance one's exercise performance. It is banned by the International Olympic Committee and National Collegiate Athletic Association. Over 800 injuries, including more than 50 deaths, have been reported by users and doctors to the FDA and various state medical bodies. Most of these cases involve heart attacks or high blood pressure leading to bleeding in the brain or stroke.

Recent studies show that many people are seriously injured through the use of ephedrine. They are often unaware that ephedrine suppliers can make wide-ranging health claims about the product that have no scientific basis. Nor is there any mention of the potential for dangerous side effects. Because the industry was lobbied to pass a law deregulating these products in l994, the FDA has been unable to regulate these products.

The FDA statement on street drugs containing botanical ephedrine FDA warns consumers not to purchase or consume ephedrine-containing dietary supplements with labels that often portray the products as apparent alternatives to illegal street drugs, such as ecstasy.

Possible adverse effects of ephedrine range from clinically significant effects--like heart attack, stroke, seizures, psychosis and death--to clinically less significant effects that may indicate the potential for more serious effects (like dizziness, headache, gastrointestinal distress, irregular heartbeat and heart palpitations). Ingredient panels on these products may list ma huang, Chinese ephedra, ma huang extract, ephedra, ephedra sinica, ephedra extract, ephedra herb powder or epitonin, all of which indicate a source of ephedrine.

Baltimore pitcher Steve Bechler’s toxicology report began the baseball’s industry call for science-based ephedra regulations. Many products containing ephedra have been removed from store shelves on a voluntary basis.



Visit the Taylor Hoonton Foundation; Fighting Steroid Abuse (taylorhooton.org), an excellent resource for parents, teachers and coaches.