Out of control

American Fitness, Sept-Oct, 2004

The number of adolescent male athletes currently taking anabolic steroids is an astounding one in every 30, according to a nationwide survey of 50,000 teenagers, states Brian Grasso, president of Developing Athletics, Inc. Moreover 0.7 percent of 10- to 14-year-old athletes reported current or previous anabolic steroid usage, according to "Anabolic Steroids and Pre-Adolescent Athletes: Prevalence, Knowledge, and Attitudes," a study of 1,553, 10-to 14-year-old athletes. As many as 40 percent of the pre-adolescent children in the study were unaware of the negative health risks from steroid consumption. These young, impressionable children are enamored with sporting success, yet cannot comprehend the health or ethical problems associated with steroid consumption.

"The anabolic steroid concerns currently ravaging professional sports continue to receive daily media attention," states Grasso. "The impact this has on children, however, goes largely unmentioned."

Education is the key to effectively control this issue. "Programs should start before junior high and continue through high school," concludes the study of pre-adolescents. "Informational sources about steroids should come from qualified individuals, including teachers, coaches and trainers. Parents should also be involved and educated to help inform their children about anabolic steroids."

To learn more about what and how to tell your children about steroids, visit www.developingathletics.com or type "steroids teenage athletes" into your favorite search engine.