Teenagers decide to take performance-enhancing drugs thinking they will improve their sports' performance, improve their looks and add more muscle. According to Mayo Clinic, teens use three primary performance-enhancing drugs and supplements: creatine, anabolic steroids and steroid precursors. In a quest for the perfect body and improved fitness, teens may not realize how much they are harming their bodies, or the long-term negative side effects these products cause.
Creatine
Creatine is a chemical naturally made in the liver, kidneys and pancreas; it also naturally occurs in foods like fish and meat. Body builders and athletes often take this performance-enhancing drug in an attempt to gain more muscle mass. Mayo Clinic says side effects include weight gain, nausea, muscle cramps and kidney disease. Creatine also interacts with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen and naproxen, caffeine and diuretics, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.
Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones used to improve the body's ability to produce muscle and inhibit muscle breakdown. KidsHealth reports teens take anabolic steroids hoping to run faster, lift heavier weights and have more endurance. Anabolic steroids, though, are illegal substances if not taken with a prescription. Teens using anabolic steroids may experience stunted growth, liver tumors, enlarged hearts, acne, male breasts, hair loss and male-pattern baldness, and muscle aches. Teen girls may start growing body hair, experience male-pattern baldness and a deepening voice.
Steroid Precursors
The body converts steroid precursors into anabolic steroids, and they include androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone. The Food and Drug Administration says steroid precursors are marketed as dietary supplements that give the same results as anabolic steroids, building muscle and enhancing performance. Mayo Clinic says most steroid precursors are illegal without a prescription; however, precursors such as DHEA are available over the counter. These performance-enhancing drugs have similar side effects as anabolic steroids, including enlarged breasts, shrinking testicles and male-pattern baldness. The FDA indicates that females experience abnormal periods, blood clots, facial hair, deep voices and enlarged clitorises.
Other Risks of Taking Drugs
Besides the physical effects of taking performance-enhancing drugs, teen athletes can jeopardize their high-school sports careers. Teens who fail drug tests could get expelled from the team, face jail time, pay fines, and forfeit trophies and medals. Kids may have to enter drug rehabilitation centers if they have taken these drugs for a long time. Instead of taking illegal substances that affect their bodies and sports career, teens should focus on eating foods that naturally enhance muscle growth, such as lean protein.
Tags: anabolic steroids, performance-enhancing drugs, male-pattern baldness, Mayo Clinic, side effects, steroid precursors, Clinic says