The threat of steroids, or appearance and performance enhancing drugs, use by high school students is soaring.
Most experts agree that about one million U.S. high school students-have used anabolic steroids. And the usage rate is on the rise.
In 1993, one in 45 high school students used anabolic steroids.
By 1999, the number was one in 27.
Today, one in 16 high school students admits to using anabolic steroids.
More than one in 20 high school girls already used anabolic steroids and the number continues to increase.
The median age for first time users is 15.
According to Dr. Harrison Pope of Harvard University, "the unique thing about steroids is that a trained eye can spot a user when they are walking in the door."
Physical changes resulting from anabolic steroid use may include:
Rapid weight gain (Rapid increase in muscle mass)
Small red or purplish acne, including breakouts on the shoulders and back
Unusually greasy hair or oily skin
Boys: Gynecomastia (the abnormally excessive development of the breast tissue in males)
Girls: Decrease in breast size. Deeper voice Hair growth on face
Persistent bad breath
Thinning hair throughout the head or receding hairline (male pattern baldness)
Aggression, hostility, and irritability
Blood spots on underwear (from injection sites)
Increased length and thickness in hair (on body parts other than the head)
Jaundice or yellowing of the skin (this may signal liver damage)
Skin eruptions and infections, such as abscesses and cysts
Drastic appetite shifts (extreme hunger or lessened/loss of appetite)
Disrupted sleep patterns (not sleeping well or sleeping too much)
Fluid level changes, bloating (face & body), and night sweating
Dizziness, trembling, nausea or vomiting
Hyperactivity or lethargy (too little energy)
Trouble urinating; discoloration or blood in urine
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Comments
Where do you get your data? This sounds very hyperbolic/alarmist.
The symptoms as muscle growth, acne, greasy hair/skin, etc. are all symptoms of puberty as well.
also, hyperactivity, or lethargy, interesting that a symptom could be the opposite of another symptom. increase in appetite due to extra training and weight lifting for sport (this would also explain the muscle growth, especially at a time when testosterone is at a high point in life, puberty).
Would love to see some citations or references.
I thought the same thing Nathan. Then I checked the Drug Free America site. It may be worse than this. The information is accurate.
I am going to share this with my two sons, age 13 and 11.
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