| Although it is typically high school students who | | | | of females and 6.8% of males have used anabolic |
| are encouraged to participate in organized sports, | | | | steroids at least one time. These statistics are |
| children of all ages do participate. Participating in | | | | more than double of a study conducted almost a |
| organized team sports is a great way to achieve | | | | decade prior. |
| physical benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and a | | | | Steroid use, as well as other drugs, is an ongoing |
| sense of well being. Organized sports are also a | | | | problem among America's youth. Steroid use not |
| great way to develop camaraderie and character | | | | only can become addictive, but can also have |
| building. | | | | long-term health risks associated with it. First and |
| In addition to the positive lessons of teamwork, | | | | foremost, extended steroid use can lead to |
| work ethic, and social skills, the heightened sense | | | | kidney failure, high blood pressure, and electrolyte |
| of competition which sports develops can be a | | | | imbalances. Additionally, steroids can lead to |
| negative strain on a child's life. The obsession with | | | | increases in harmful cholesterol and risk of heart |
| winning, emulating their heroes in professional | | | | disease and even strokes, which can ultimately |
| sports, or reaching the professional level can lead | | | | lead to death. |
| to steroid use. While the encouragement of | | | | Any teenager using steroids is at risk of altering |
| children to strive to be the best is a positive | | | | his or her growth patterns and development as |
| guideline, some can turn it into a negative by | | | | well. Steroids in the system can lead to |
| experimenting with substances that can harm | | | | premature closure of growth plates thus |
| their bodies and their minds. | | | | preventing the teenager from achieving his or her |
| It is perhaps because of these extremely high | | | | full grown form. Even more upsetting is the |
| standards that dangerous practices begin to take | | | | cessation of menstruation in girls combined with |
| hold of young athletes. Also, it may be due to | | | | the deepening of the voice, baldness, and growth |
| increases in news coverage of professional | | | | of facial hair. Steroids are particularly dangerous |
| athletes using steroids. These are athletes who | | | | for young adolescents and young adults because |
| are idolized by kids. They are athletes who used | | | | their bodies are going through natural changes |
| steroids and achieved great success within their | | | | which can be severely altered or hindered by the |
| respective sports, albeit at a price. It is the | | | | use of these drugs. |
| responsibility of parents and coaches to make | | | | In addition to these physical effects, steroid use |
| sure that all children, especially teenagers, are | | | | can also affect a teenager's mental well-being. Use |
| training in a safe and healthy way without the use | | | | of steroids, as we know, can alter the amounts |
| of steroids. | | | | of growth hormone in the body as well as other |
| Steroids are drugs that can help athletes achieve | | | | hormones and neurotransmitters. This can lead to |
| certain physical goals such as increased muscle | | | | wild mood swings which can materialize into |
| mass, strength, and endurance. However, these | | | | depression and even suicidal thoughts. It has been |
| drugs are extremely dangerous and illegal when | | | | reported that teenagers who had stopped using |
| used in competitive sports ranging from the | | | | steroids had fallen into depression (which is a |
| professional level to even high school competitions. | | | | common feeling among teens but can be |
| Drug use, however, even the use of steroids, is | | | | exemplified by drug use), and taken their own |
| sometimes glorified in movies and the media. | | | | lives. |
| Children may see an athlete set a record only to | | | | Many parents and coaches today agree that |
| be accused years later of using steroids. | | | | something must be done to deter today's youth |
| America's youth can interpret this as an easy | | | | from using steroids. The best way to do this is |
| way to achieve success. | | | | through education, so many schools and sports |
| The American media tends to report only on | | | | programs today are incorporating drug education |
| steroid use among professional athletes mainly in | | | | into their curriculums. However, much more is |
| baseball, football, and basketball. What is missing, | | | | needed to encourage steroid avoidance. According |
| many times, in these reports is the rampant use | | | | to the National Institute for Drug Abuse, only |
| of steroids among the nation's youth. The use of | | | | 45% of high school seniors believe that using |
| steroids within the United States is increasing in | | | | steroids can be physically harmful. The media can |
| dangerous numbers and should be a focus of the | | | | also do its part to help America's youth as well. |
| media in order to bring attention to parents, | | | | More coverage on the risks associated with the |
| coaches, and teenagers. | | | | use of steroids would go a long way, especially |
| As recently as 2003, it was found by the Youth | | | | among today's impressionable teens. |
| Risk and Behavior Surveillance System that 5.3% | | | | |