Steroid Use and the Young Athlete

Young athletes are subject to many different pressures.  The pressure to achieve can influence the athlete to choose unhealthy methods to cope with the pressure.  These coping methods can include steroid and anabolic precursor use.

The use of performance enhancing drugs also known as ergogenic aids has been an ongoing problem in sports for decades.  Its use has resulted in the disqualification of athletes in the Olympic Games, cycling and other sports.  It has been an especially big topic in major league baseball.

Young athletes turn to ergogenic aids to improve performance and appearance.  These substances can also speed up recovery.  This is an important benefit because strength and muscle mass is the product of breaking down the muscle and the growth it undergoes in the rebuilding process. Steroid use also allows the athlete to train for longer periods of time and train at a higher intensity.

The negative effects of continued steroid use by young athletes are substantial.  The use of substances that supplant natural testosterone production in males can cause testicular atrophy as the body shuts down testosterone production.  It can also cause damage to the liver and kidneys, cause acne and balding. 

The increased levels of testosterone can also cause the body to increase the production to estrogen or to metabolize the excess testosterone into estrogen.  Tamoxifin is one of the drugs used to lower estrogen levels.  Over the counter products such as Diindolyimethane or DIM are marketed to both men and women to lower estrogen levels that may be the product of performance enhancing drugs.

Women experience negative side effects from steroid use too.  The symptoms can include irregular menstrual cycles, clitoral enlargement and the deepening of voice.

Steroid use also has a negative psychological impact on its users. Aggressiveness, irritability, depression and violent behavior have all been linked to steroid use.  Studies also point to the decreased levels of serotonin in the brain.  Serotonin is a substance our bodies create that enters the blood stream and aids a person to feel good.

Anabolic androgenic steroids are illegal and at the same time are fairly well accepted among amateur young athletes.  According to the book, Foundations of Sport and Exercise Psychology a poll taken in 1995 consisting of mostly United States Olympic athletes showed 98 percent of those polled would use a banned substance to guarantee a win.  At least one million people in the United States have used anabolic steroids at least once.

Anabolic precursors may or may not require a prescription to be obtained.  Among these precursors are Dehydroepiandrosterone, A’dione and A’diol.  These androgenic hormones are produced naturally in the body.  The body metabolizes them into testosterone and estrogen.  DHEA is the most common precursor and is converted into testosterone by both gonadal and non-gonadal tissue in both males and females. 

Young athletes are under intense pressure to perform.  They are being directed to choose a single sport to focus on at a younger age.  Many are competing in a single sport year round. 

Athletes under this type of pressure at an early age are especially susceptible the lure of fast gains through illegal steroid use and use of over the counter precursor supplements.

It's best for a young athlete to stick to a good diet and well-designed training program.  This will help them achieve performance for life.