Steroids, Teens

In a 2002 survey, the youth were asked how easy it was for school aged children to obtain steroids. The survey showed 22% of eighth graders, 33.2% of tenth graders, and 46.1% of twelfth graders reported that steroids were "fairly easy" or "very easy" to obtain (greater). Almost 50 percent of seniors in high school reported that obtaining anabolic steroids is "very easy", the amount of students that have access to steroids is alarmingly high and something must be done to lower it.

With all the controversy surrounding steroids it is no surprise that youth idolizing major league players such as, Sammy Sosa, Mark McGuire, and Jose Conseco, might take the first step towards using steroids. To deal with the steroid problem the Baseball commissioner, Bud Selig, passed a tough new policy to deal with steroid abuse in the major leagues (espn).

According to the Center for Disease Control (cdc), "the number of teens reported to have tried steroids [has] doubled since 1991 (2facts)." Steroids have become very accessible to students, it is important to put a stop to their use now. Steroid screening and education to anyone who participates in after school sports would be a great way to attach the problem. An education program might stop kids who were thinking about trying steroids from ever taking them, and stop kids who are already taking them once they see some of the effects it can have on their bodies. Drug screenings would make it possible for athletic directors to identify individual users.

In recent years anabolic steroids have risen in popularity and acceptance among teens. Steroid use very often happens at home or at school without parents or faculty ever knowing. Teens trying to live up to the pressure and competitive nature of sports might ultimately resort to using steroids without the proper guidance. Professional sports can also play a large roll in a child's choice to use steroids. Teens wishing to emulate their sports hero might think steroids are the best way to do so.

The effects of steroid use are not limited exclusively to the user. Using anabolic steroids can also affect the user's family and classmates. The term "Roid Rage" has been coined to describe the extreme mood swings sometimes experienced by steroid users. Implementing a steroid abuse prevention program as a required part of every school athletic program in the Springfield public school district is necessary to combat the steroid abuse problem. The program would consist of two parts, the first part being educational, and the second being steroid/drug screening for any student that wishes to play organized sports.

To show the need for a steroid prevention program this report will explore the physiological effects of anabolic steroids on the body, and also how steroids affect the user on a social level. This report will discuss what to look for in order to more accurately identify steroid users. Research on the effects of anabolic steroids, existing drug policies and existing programs will be presented to properly indicate what is lacking with current programs and what can be improved on. This report will assess other states across the country that already implemented a steroid prevention program.

To fully understand why a Steroid prevention program and steroid testing is necessary this report will discuss the effects of steroids, both physical and social, as well as the existing policies in this state and others dealing with steroid abuse. It will discuss the cost of steroid testing and different types of funding for steroid prevention. It will also show a good example of a steroid prevention program that could be implemented in any school district in the United States with little time and expense.

Effects of Steroids

In order to understand why there is a need for a steroid testing and educational program, this report will first discuss the physical and social effects steroid abuse has on the user. Knowing the side effects of steroid abuse will make it easier to identify user and treat them.

Physical

Anabolic steroids are dangerous and have negative effects especially on the bodies of young developing athletes. The effects of anabolic steroids on the body may vary depending on age and sex. In both men and women anabolic steroids will affect the way the user appears. Male users might notice the development of breasts, baldness, and acne (AAP). In women some changes in their appearance that are most noticeable would be the growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, back acne, and a deepened voice (AAP).

Changes to the user's body are not exclusively cosmetic; there are also physiological changes the user might experience. Both men and women can be subject to a wide range of problems such as; high blood pressure and heart disease, liver damage and cancers, stroke and blood clots, headaches, aching joints, muscle cramps, chaotic sleep patterns, urinary and bowel problems, such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting (AAP). Other side effects are gender specific, such as reduced sperm count, reduced testicular size, and a increased risk of prostate cancer are all specific to males, while women might experience an enlarged clitoris, and cease menstruating.

Younger athletes who begin taking steroids to enhance their playing ability will experience accelerated puberty changes and also stop skeletal growth due to premature skeletal maturation (GDCADA). To identify steroid users it is important to know the signs of steroid abuse so it can be stopped before any permanent harm is done to the user's body.

Signs of abuse in teens

Steroid abuse is an issue that both parents and faculty need to be aware of. For parents and faculty to best identify users they should first know what some of the warning signs are. The most noticeable and recognized change is the larger muscle mass and rapid weight gain. Other things to look out for are extreme mood swings and a bad attitude. The aggressive behavior is caused by chemical imbalances in the body and is often referred to as roid rage. Other tell tale signs of steroid use are purple and red spots on the body, swollen feet and legs, shaking, body odors and as was mentioned earlier severe acne (Teen).

Social

The effects of anabolic steroids are not limited to the user's body; steroids can also have a negative

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