Win. Win. Win. There is no losing, just winning, at all costs. Get bigger, get stronger, hit harder, run faster longer, DESTROY YOUR COMPETITION.
This is the message of contemporary sports in America. Winning is everything, losing is unacceptable. Winners go on to become famous and sign million dollar contracts, losers watch them on television.
With all of the societal pressure young athletes are faced with to succeed, be it from the media, parents, coaches or peers, it is no wonder that a surprising number turn to illegal performance enhancing drugs to give them an edge over their competition.
According to a 2007 report from the Mayo Clinic:
About 3 million people use anabolic steroids
One in four steroid users started as a teenager, and
One out of every 10 is a teenager.
If these numbers are correct (and precise statistics are, of course, impossible to come by, given that steroid use is illegal), an estimated 300,000 teenagers use illegal anabolic steroids, and the number is likely greater.
Steroid use by star athletes is rampant
Many of our nation's sports stars have been implicated in steroid use. Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jason Giambi, Gary Sheffield, Justin Gatlin, Eric Gagne, Troy Glaus, Mark McGwire, Raphel Palmero, Shawn Merriman, Marion Jones ... the list goes on and on. So why is it, exactly, that we should be incredibly disappointed with these people? Why am I saddened to see the name of my childhood hero, Mo Vaughan, in the Mitchell report? Why are steroids such a big deal?
300,000 teenagers, that's why.
Three hundred thousand kids using drugs that, while they may give them the boost they are looking for, have life-altering side effects.
Granted, anabolic steroids do enhance performance (which, of course, is why they are taken):
Increased recovery rate/less muscle breakdown
Improved muscle building capabilities
Fat loss
Added aggression
Improved strength and endurance
I have witnessed firsthand what steroids can do to a young man. Let me just write that the no-neck look is out.
Dangers of steroids
Here's a partial list of the over seventy well known increased health risks users of anabolic steroids run:
Acne
Cramps
Muscle and tendon injury
Sterility
Insomnia
Cancer (liver, kidney, prostate, cervical, endometrial, etc.)
Growth of breasts (in men)
Trembling
Pain during urination
Jaundice
Skin discoloration
Decreased breast size (in women)
Amenorrhea (halted menstrual cycle)
Decreased testicle size
Nose bleeds
HIV and Hepatitis (needle use)
Psychosis and mood swings ("roid rage" was a major factor cited in wrestler Chris Benoit's recent double parricide/suicide)
Weakened immune system
Increase of "male" features in women
Stunted growth in children
Liver, cardiovascular and kidney disease
Hair loss
Negative Cholesterol effects
Heart attacks and stroke
Increase risk of dying after head trauma (such as a concussion)
The last risk on our list is
Preventing use is key
Is winning worth it? Clearly not. Steroids, however, have legitimate medical uses and are not about to disappear. How then, can we stop our kids from using illegal steroids?
Be proactive, talk to your kids about the risks! If they are old enough, tell them the horror stories.
Become educated about the visible signs of steroid use and be on the lookout! Steroid use is more common than you might think.
Don't ignore the problem. If you suspect your child is using steroids, seek help immediately before it's too late.
Tell your child about the stiff price he could pay for illegal steroid: up to a year in jail and a minimum $1,000 dollar fine.
Links:
[1] https://www.momsteam.com/sports/football-tackle/safety/anabolic-steroids-your-childs-road-to-the-gold-or-to-the-grave
[2] https://www.momsteam.com/team-of-experts/steven-horwitz-dc/performance-enhancing-drugs/what-are-anabolic-steroids-and-how-do-