A research study conducted by the Division of Health Promotion and Sports Medicine at the Oregon Health and Science University (OHSU) indicted that steroid use is not confined to teen girls involved in high school athletic sports. Steroid use was also found to go hand in hand with unhealthy choices like smoking and taking diet pills. The findings from the Center for Disease Controls Youth Risk Behavior Survey were analyzed by OHSU School of Medicine professors and showed that 5% of the admitted using or have used steroids.
Aside from the risk of increased substance use like tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and cocaine, young female steroid users were more prone to have had sex before the age of 13, have had a pregnancy, be involved in drunk driving, carrying a weapon, have had a fight or have experienced depression or attempted suicide. Those who reported using steroids were less likely to participate in school sports.
Of those surveyed, a number of the girls admitted they were trying to change their weight by using steroids, since the substance causes loss in body fat and increases lean tissue. However, steroid–users are more likely to try drastic weight-loss techniques that can compromise their health.
The findings highlight the relation between the steroid use and health compromising activities in areas like substance abuse, sexual behavior, mental health and violence. High-risk adolescent girls seem to have received lesser attention about steroid use, maybe because of their actions were perceived as less destructive on a social level. Therefore, effective prevention and treatment programs must also be created that are relevant to this gender and age group.
Steroid testing can be a deterrent procedure to help curb the problem of steroid use not only in school athletics but young people in general. Parents who may suspect steroid use can help their kids get early treatment by talking to them about the complications of the substance and using steroid test kits. Steroid test kits are the choice for parents and teens who are concerned of privacy matters. Testcountry’s steroid testing kits are recommended safe and accurate and are approved by the FDA. These home test kits are available at Testcountry.com
