Facts & Trends about Teenage Steroid Abuse in the USA
Steroids are very popular substances that are prescribed to enhance male sexual appearance because it is related to sex male hormones. This is prescribed to those men who have delayed sexual development or other disorders characterized by testosterone deficiency. The most common steroid for this effect is called anabolic steroids. The most common anabolic steroids available today are oxandrin, anadrol, dianabol, deca-durabolin, equipoise, and winstrol.
Steroids are not usually prescribed to healthy and vibrant young men because it does not cure anything. However, most teenagers would feel the need to use one if they want to look attractive. Once they do so without doctor’s prescription, they are using it illegally. By doing so, this is already called drug abuse of steroids. Once teenagers reach this point, it will not only give them legal implication. It also has adverse health implication that is not favorable.
According to the study funded by NIDA, there are 2.5 percent of 8th graders who have used steroids once. Among 10th graders, there are 3.5 percent of them who have used steroids. While among 12th graders, there are 4 percent. Subsequently, with regards to the ease of getting the drug, 17 percent of the 8th grade, 27.7 percent of 10th grade and 40 percent of twelfth grade say that steroids are very easy to get.
Usually, abuse of steroids is done due to the fact that teenagers want to look masculine in their age. There are stories of teenagers who want to build up muscle fast that’s why they take steroids. Most users pop steroids directly to their mouth as in taking pills while others take steroids through injections. When users take the drug continuously they are good as abusing the drugs because they do this without prescription. Steroid abuse is taking ten to hundred times higher than the dosage normally prescribed by the doctors for medical purposes.
Although commonly anabolic-androgenic steroids builds muscles and enhance male sexual characteristics, it has long term side effects that are not favorable for abusers, especially teens. Some of the most common side effects of steroids include:
• Severe acne which may hurt the facial appearance.
• Hair loss or baldness
• Increase high blood pressure and other possible heart ailment
• Damages the liver and may even increase tumors on it
• Behavioral change like mood swings, aggression, arrogance and violence
• Hormonal imbalance where possible gender mix-up may happen (such as girls growing beards or boys developing breast-like characteristics in the body)
The other dangerous side effects of anabolic steroid may that it can be addictive. Abusers have the tendency to continuously use the said drug over and over again until the effects are already noticeable.
There have been growing concerns of the abuse of steroids. There has been a need for government intervention to control steroid abuse. Many states have already implemented policies to ban selling and purchasing of steroids without proper prescription. Punishment for such violation includes fees and penalties. Aside from general control, the worldwide organization for athletics and athletics committee has also banned usage of steroids among athletes. Aside from the fact that it has effect on the user, athletic organizations claim that the use of steroids can be an unfair advantage to the competitor.
