Anabolic steroid use
in adolescents and high schools
Anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) are
extremely powerful drugs. “Anabolic”
means to grow and “androgenic,” pertains to the development of male
characteristics. AAS are a synthetic
version of the body’s naturally occurring hormone testosterone, the same
chemical responsible for male sexual traits and the fundamental component in
muscle development. AAS are used
medically to boost testosterone in males whose natural production is
insufficient, to block or eliminate estrogen production in females with breast
or reproductive cancers, to aid in anemia, and to preserve lean body tissue in
patients with immune system and muscle wasting diseases. Although AAS usage has the potential for
negative side effects, they are often outweighed by the benefits patients
receive when administered under a physician’s care.
Though most commonly seen in bodybuilding,
AAS are also prevalent in non-bodybuilder circles when there is dissatisfaction
with one’s physique, a desire to shed unwanted fat, or the need to gain
additional muscle mass. Jack is a member
of a local health club and former football player at Virginia Tech who
exclaims, “I wanted the body of a 25-year old pro athlete at eighteen years
old. What I didn’t understand was that
at 18, I was still growing.” A
consistent steroid user throughout his high school and college careers, Jack
was like many teenagers who seek chemical assistance in fulfilling social and
athletic goals. According to the
Monitoring the Future Survey by The University of Michigan, in 2006, 2.7% of
high school seniors reported they had tried steroids at least once in their
lifetime. The majority of those who fall
victim to teenage steroid abuse are male athletes seeking to better their
performance in sports, be more competitive in the pursuit of athletic
scholarships, or to gain recognition outside of the arena. Females as well as males have shockingly
admitted trying steroids as early as age 11, and are said to most commonly do
so for aesthetic purposes.
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