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... [continues]

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