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PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS IN COLLEGE SPORTS
THE RISKS OF STEROID ABUSE Success in sports should be the result of hard
work, dedication and love of the game as opposed to the artificial
enhancement of your physique and strength through the use of
anabolic steroids.
Taking a pill, giving yourself injections or
using anabolic gels and creams that can be rubbed into the skin to
build muscle and increase strength may be the easy road to success,
but it is also an extremely dangerous way to make yourself stand-out
from your teammates. Recent studies suggest that steroid abuse among teenagers is on the rise. The study indicates that students at the 8th grade level (and even younger) are beginning to experiment with steroids with little understanding of their potential deadly side effects. Steroid use has typically been higher among male athletes than females, but the emergence of high-profile female athletes and the pressures of high achievement in women's sports are closing that gap. |
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These drugs are available legally only through prescriptions and were developed for individuals suffering from delayed puberty, some forms of impotence and to help develop body mass in individuals suffering from body-wasting diseases. Illegally obtained steroids taken by teens can contain 10 to 100 times the dosage levels of physician prescribed steroids. Student athletes need to realize the risks associated with steroid use far outweigh the benefits. The abuse of steroids is associated with higher risks of heart attack and stroke, and the abuse of most oral steroids is associated with increased risk of liver problems including tumors and cancer, fluid retention, and high blood pressure (even in athletes younger than 30). Athletes who inject steroids are at risk of contracting dangerous diseases such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and bacterial endocarditis (inflammation of the heart lining). |
Adolescents who experiment with steroids risk premature growth stoppage, meaning they risk remaining short for the rest of their lives. Research also indicates steroids may be responsible for intense bouts of aggression and other psychiatric side effects including extreme mood swings.
Most side effects are reversible if the user stops taking the drug, but some are permanent. Test results in male mice using steroid doses comparable to those taken by human athletes caused a high percentage of premature deaths.
Think about it. Wouldn't you rather spend a little more time in the weight room than a lot more time in the emergency room? Be smart and stay away from steroids. They just aren't worth it.
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