Steroid and Performance Enhancing Drug Use in Kids: What you need to know
I have been presenting to athletes, parents, and schools for almost a decade now. It has been brought to my attention by coaches that I will need to address more than just sleep, nutrition, recovery, and creatine supplements in my talks. In the last few years, more middle school and high school kids are experimenting with performance enhancing drugs. I couldn’t believe this until I started doing the research.
Performance-enhancing drugs known as PEDS are being used more and more in children and teens. In fact, the prevalence of steroid use within grades 8, 10, and 12 in the U.S. from 1991-2023 is around 6 percent according to surveys and statistics. Furthermore, 3.3% of high school students admit anabolic steroid use; another finds 8% of girls and 12% of boys report using products to improve appearance, muscle mass, or strength.
The anabolic steroid use among our youth (12-19 years old) often goes unnoticed by friends, parents, and coaches. It is reported that up to 85% of teens have no knowledge on the negative side effects of steroid use.
What are anabolic steroids?
Anabolic steroids are drugs that can be taken to boost physical performance, strength, and skeletal muscle. These drugs are called anabolic-androgenic steroids that are designed to function like testosterone which is made by the body naturally. Testosterone plays an important role in our health and disease that many don’t understand. Testosterone is the major sex hormone in males. It is essential for proper growth and development of masculine characteristics. The brain sends signals to the pituitary gland at the base of the brain to control the production of testosterone in men. The pituitary gland then communicates to the testes to produce testosterone. When testosterone levels rise too high, the brain will communicate to the pituitary to decrease production. Testosterone is synthesized in the body from cholesterol (1).
DYK?? THE MEDIAN AGE FOR 1ST TIME STEROID USE: 15 years old
Steroid abuse can lead to:
- Mood swings
- Paranoia
- Oily skin
- Hair loss or excessive hair growth
- Fast muscle growth in short period of time
- Abnormal behavior like locking their bedroom door and acts secretive
- Depression and increased aggression toward loved ones
- Cash disappearing that is unaccounted for because a teen may not want to be honest about what the funds are being used for
- Infertility, stroke, malaria, tumors, kidney failure, abdominal pain, impaired judgment which can be fatal, blood diseases and MORE
The Quick Stats – PED Use in Boys & Girls:
- Over 1.5 million teens admit to using anabolic steroids according to the Taylor Hooton Foundation
- 21% of gay and bisexual boys compared to 4% of heterosexual boys used anabolic steroids at least once in their lives (2)
- 7% of high school students admit to using anabolic steroids
- 21% of high school students know a friend who uses steroids
- 40% of high school seniors report it’s easy to gain access to them
- 85% of young people have never had a parent, coach, or teacher talk with them about the dangers of performance enhancing drugs
- Teen girls are the fastest growing group of new users
- Steroid users said they would take a pill or 57% powder if it guaranteed reaching their goals even if it might shorten their lifespan
The kids and student athletes using steroids are likely to have higher muscle volume and increased muscle strength, amplifying the momentum and impact of head-on collisions according to Sherman et al., 2023.
Parents are shocked to learn how many teens are using PED’s according to the president of the Taylor Hooton Foundation, which was formed after his son died related to the use of anabolic steroids.
Solutions & Education to Reduce PED Use:
- Talk to your loved ones about the risks associated with steroid use and abuse.
- Identify and know the signs if you see a child or loved one that you think is possibly using steroids.
- Discuss the importance of healthy eating, proper fueling for sports, sleep hygiene, and having a healthy relationship mentally and physically with one’s body.
- Provide team or school-wide education on the consequences, ethical liability, and disqualification of steroid use. Implement a zero tolerance policy in the school to ensure that athletes will not risk their eligibility for health.
- Establish rules with your kids if they were to try PEDs and the consequences of use.
An 11-year observational study showed a roughly threefold higher risk for death in steroid users than in nonusers. Androgenic anabolic steroids (AASs) are associated with cardiovascular-related and psychiatric morbidity and mortality, but the magnitude of these risks has been difficult to assess from small studies (3).
For more information on how to talk to your athletes or community about the dangers of PEDs, please check out the resources below as well as the Taylor Hooton Foundation!
Your health, life, self-worth, and athletic eligibility is not worth the risk of using performance enhancing drugs! Download the PED danger graphic to share with your athletes, coaches, and parents within your community HERE.
Focusing on proper nutrition, sleep, hydration, consistency in training, and lifestyle modifications would be the best way to help your young athlete succeed with their goals!
Resources:
1. Nassar, G. N., & Leslie, S. W. (2023). Physiology, Testosterone. In StatPearls. StatPearls Publishing.
2. Blashill AJ, Safren SA. Sexual Orientation and Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids in US Adolescent Boys. Pediatrics. 2014;133(3):1-7; doi:10.1542/peds.2013-2768 (published online ahead of print, February 3, 2014)
3. Sherman, K., Tyree, P., Ford, A., Mazur, A., Nolan, D. & Hartwell, M. (2024). Association between steroid use and concussions among high school athletes: a cross-sectional analysis of the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 124(1), 27-34. https://doi.org/10.1515/jom-2023-0133
4. Taylor Hooton Foundation. http://taylorhooton.org/
Additional resources:
1. White ND, Noeun J. Performance-Enhancing Drug Use in Adolescence. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Nov 29;11(2):122-124. doi: 10.1177/1559827616680593. PMID: 30202322; PMCID: PMC6125030.
2. Terney R, McLain LG. The Use of Anabolic Steroids in High School Students. Am J Dis Child. 1990;144(1):99–103. doi:10.1001/archpedi.1990.02150250111046.
3. White ND, Noeun J. Performance-Enhancing Drug Use in Adolescence. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Nov 29;11(2):122-124. doi: 10.1177/1559827616680593. PMID: 30202322; PMCID: PMC6125030.
4. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/teens-and-steroids-dangerous-combo
5. https://www.canberra.edu.au/about-uc/media/newsroom/2014/july/doping-in-athletes
7. White ND, Noeun J. Performance-Enhancing Drug Use in Adolescence. Am J Lifestyle Med. 2016 Nov 29;11(2):122-124. doi: 10.1177/1559827616680593. PMID: 30202322; PMCID: PMC6125030.
9. https://www.fda.gov/consumers/consumer-updates/teens-and-steroids-dangerous-combo
10. https://kidshealth.org/en/kids/steroids.html
11. https://www.addictioncenter.com/stimulants/steroids/steroid-withdrawal-detox
12. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/514958
13. https://muscleandbrawn.com/statistics/steroid-high-school
-In Faith, Health, & Wellness
Wendi A. Irlbeck, MS, RDN, LD, CISSN
The Nutrition with Wendi team utilizes evidence-based science to tailor nutrition programs for athletes to optimize performance, minimize health risks, and enhance recovery from training while focusing on injury prevention. We partner with parents, athletes, health professionals, and individuals and offer elite nutrition and health guidance for optimal athletic performance, injury, and disease reduction. We provide virtual sports nutrition coaching, education, and presentations virtually in Texas, Florida, California, Minnesota, Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, North Dakota, Arizona, and Michigan. Our primary office is based in Nashville, Tennesse where we serve the greater Brentwood, Franklin, and Green Hills communities. Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram for more nutrition information. Services booking here to consult with Wendi for a team talk or QA session.
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