Posts Tagged teen steroid abuse

How Effective Is Drug Testing in Sports?

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Testing, Steroid Abuse on May 7th, 2010

Family time is observed in a variety of ways by families, and one of the more common is to catch a ball game – or any other sport for which family members have a shared interest – on TV or, if it is well within your budget, on the court or arena or stadium itself. Sports have also long been considered as a way to keep kids busy and therefore away from vice, and as a great medium to teach values such as discipline and sportsmanship.

teen athletesIn recent years, however, the integrity of these games has been put into question with the emergence of the use of performance enhancing drugs. For some, a game is only viable provided that the athletes have been subjected to – and successfully passed – a battery of drug tests, random or otherwise.

But how effective are these tests really? Have they been able to deter athletes from taking the easy way to the top?

On ProCon.com, the pros and cons of the “Effectiveness of Drug Testing” were discussed. While there seems to have been a decline in the number of athletes testing positive, this fact, according to Dr. Ivan Waddinngton of the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences, is not an accurate reflection of whether doping is now on a decline or not. This may well even be due to the fact that athletes just might be getting smarter.

However, Dr. Gary Wadler, the chairperson of the World Anti-Doping Agency stresses that the tests that they provide are “accurate and reliable.”

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How to Spot a Steroid Abuser

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Steroid Abuse on February 7th, 2010

Using anabolic steroids is a dangerous and misguided measure to tap into the body’s potential. If your relative or friend is an athlete, it is wise to be knowledgeable about the dangers of steroid abuse. Do not take steroid use lightly; it is extremely risky and may cause severe damages to one’s body, and in some cases, even death. Watch out for these most common signs that indicate steroid abuse.

steroid abusePhysical changes are the most obvious and easy to spot signs, especially when dealing with novice users. Jaundice, or yellowing of the skin due to the damage to one’s liver, is an indication of abusive steroid use. Due to the steroid’s effect on a person’s hormones, gynocomastia, or an uncharacteristic excessive development of breast tissue in males, is also a clear sign to watch out for.

Other obvious physical changes are acne formations, persistent bad breath, excessive hair loss, skin infections such as abscesses and cysts, rapid or progressive weight gain, abnormal muscle growth, hyperactivity and discoloration or blood in urine.

Be wary of personality and psychological changes that happen out of the blue. Mood swings and increased aggression or irritability is a common sign of steroid use. Because of the irregularity of the hormones in the body, users have been known to become disrespectful or abusive, either verbally or physically to authority or peers, causing severe spurts of anger or lashing out. More severe mental illnesses on record are hallucinations, paranoia and depression.

If ever these signs and symptoms are evident to someone you know, never hesitate to exercise your responsibility as a friend or relative to try to prevent any more harm.

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Steroid Abuse of Teen Athletes

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Drug Addiction, Steroid Abuse on January 23rd, 2010

The pressures of being in a sports team can prove too much for some young athletes, as the main point is to become better at what they can do, whether it is baseball, basketball or football. While working hard remains to be the best way to improve in the sport, some choose to turn to steroids to further enhance performance. The enhancements caused by steroids are mainly physical, but it is not uncommon to see mental breakdowns because of these.

teen's bodySteroids are often used to increase body mass, and these often deal with hormonal augmentation. While this may be benefit you if you’re trying to win a Mr. Muscleman competition, the long-term effects of steroids far outweigh its benefits. Not only do you risk damage to your liver, heart and kidney, but it can also affect your mental and emotional states. The worst part of it is that it can also affect your sexual development as a whole.

Getting caught using steroids is another thing to risk. It’s an act that’s generally frowned upon, simply because the pride of being in a sports team revolves around the concept of hard work and determination. While steroids may enhance physical strength, they can cause a lot of grief when people start talking about you and your drug problem. It would be a more difficult task to gain their trust again.

While there are physical benefits to using steroids, they pale in comparison to the set of disadvantages that surround their use.

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No Magic Pill Needed to Enhance Sports Performance

Posted by DrugFreeHomes in Steroid Abuse on December 18th, 2009

Many teen athletes seem to believe that “bigger, stronger, faster” is the way to go. Many think that these are the key factors that separate the star players from the bench warmers. Add this to the fact that most well-established athletes actually make good money, as sportsmen and as celebrities, you end up with more teenagers simply trying to look like the action heroes or wrestling superstars they see on magazines.

Teenagers, being in the time of their lives when they start wanting everything, try the one thing most people actually try to do during puberty — make time go faster.

college footballTeenagers engaged in sports or have started body composition training want the results to be seen in the shortest possible time. However, growing one’s physique is an intricate process in which the whole system should participate in. Becoming leaner means improving metabolism, and improved metabolism actually assists the body in assimilating the proper nutrients to be transported to the different body parts.

To absorb the optimum amount of nutrients, one would need the right amount of the right food at the right time. Yes, TIME is exactly what is needed by the body to process all these improvements to be translated into better body composition, and the time needed by your bodies should be spent by infusing a particular catalyst: exercise. Many teenagers try to find a “magic pill” or a “secret recipe” for achieving the results they want while skipping the entire natural process.

Teenagers should know and understand that their adolescent years provide their bodies the perfect environment for muscular growth. They are at a point in their lives wherein their levels of testosterone (growth hormones of the body) are at its peak. If they spend this time exercising regularly at the right pace and intensity, they already have their own personal and all-natural steroids working for them.

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