Steroids and Teenagers

The use of steroids is headline news right now both in the United States and worldwide. Big names in professional sports have rumored, or admitted to using steroids to bulk up their bodies and improve their game. Our teenagers look up them as role models and it’s sad to see them letting our teens down. When they see their favorite athlete using steroids, they believe if it’s all right for these stars, it’s all right for them too.

Just like any drug, if glamorized it is more appealing and attractive to the impressionable teens. They do it, why can't we? The scary fact in all this is think of all the "street" drugs out there today. Our teens have more access to anything they want. This makes it very dangerous for our teen population.

Few realize what some of the terrible side effects are for those who use anabolic steroids. Some teenagers discover too late and the damage is irreparable or they are dead. Yes, it is that serious!

Anabolic steroids are a synthetic substance that promotes the growth of skeletal muscles and is related to the male hormone testosterone. There are over 100 known steroids that have been developed since first discovered in 1930. They were found to be effective in building skeletal muscle in laboratory animals and were first used by weight lifters and bodybuilders. It caught on with other athletes and is so prolific it has been know to affect the outcome of sports.