Talking to Kids about Steriods

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 30, 2008

Some major league baseball players have recently made the news, not for their great plays, but for their accused use of performance-enhancing steroids.

"This is an opportunity for parents, coaches and other adults to discuss the ramifications of steroid use," says Paul McKnight, youth development educator with University of Illinois Extension.

Nora Volkow, director of the National Institute on Drug Abuse, states that "We are now facing a very damaging message that is becoming pervasive in our society–that bigger is better, and being the best is more important than how you get there."

Steroid abuse is different than the abuse of other illicit substances. The initial use of steroids is not driven by the immediate high that comes with most drugs of abuse, but by the user's desire to change appearance and performance. These effects can build confidence and strength, which leads the abuser to overlook the potential serious long-term damage that steroids can cause.

McKnight says the best solution is a multi-faceted approach. Show how steroids affect immediate sports performance. Demonstrate how to turn down offers of drugs. And, then demonstrate how to build strong bodies without steroids.

"Don't teach just the negative," advises McKnight. "Adolescents sense that you are leaving out the other side of the issue and reject the message. The case against using steroids is powerful, and young people need to hear it through proper education."

Here are some points to communicate to kids:

• Steroids do improve some kinds of athletic performance.

• No young person should ever take steroids. Steroids can stunt your growth. Steroids can put you on the bench because they do not affect the strength of tendons and ligaments, which hold the muscle together. Exertion can cause injury.

• Steroids are hazardous for anyone. They can cause more than 70 side effects. They can make you less attractive to the opposite sex because they can cause acne, bloated appearance, rapid weight gain, and can make you look like the opposite sex. If you are a female, steroids can make you grow facial hair and deepen your voice. If you are male, they can cause impotence, growth of breast, and pain while urinating.

• Steroids can lead to diabetes, liver damage, and heart attacks. They can play havoc with your emotions.

• Steroids can be addictive and can have dangerous impurities leading to hepatitis B and C. Needle use can also lead to infections such as HIV.

• Steroid use can lead to a criminal record. Steroids are illegal except with a doctor's prescription.

One reason that young people resort to steroids is that they often do not concern themselves with long-term effects. The desire to impress peers or make the baseball team is much more immediate than future health problems.

"Kids need to understand that they can have a strong body and excel in sports without the use of steroids, and that many people have done just that," explains McKnight. "Help them to focus on proper nutrition, rest and good overall health."

Research has demonstrated that inappropriate use of steroids can have disastrous medical, psychiatric and behavioral consequences. Participating in sports offers many benefits, but youth and adults should not take unnecessary health risks in an effort to be the best.

Source: Paul McKnight, Extension Unit Educator, Youth Development, knightmc@uiuc.edu