Steroids & Supplements:
Information About Performance-Enhancing Substances
The pressure to perform in high school and college sports continues to increase as student-athletes compete for scholarships and chase the dream of playing professionally. Unfortunately, some athletes at all levels of competition think that taking a performance-enhancing substance is an easy way to get ahead in sports. These substances can also cause serious health problems for the athletes who use them. If you are considering taking any type of performance-enhancing substance, legal or illegal, we encourage you to check out this guide and talk with your health care provider so that you can understand the risks.
Click on the question you're interested in:
What is a performance-enhancing substance?
What are the health risks associated with taking anabolic steroids?
What are some of the warning signs that someone is taking anabolic steroids?
Where can I get help to quit taking steroids?
What are the risks of taking stimulants, diuretics and other dietary supplements such as creatine?
Are all performance-enhancing substances illegal?
What is a performance-enhancing substance? 
The term “performance-enhancing substance” refers to a variety of substances that athletes think may increase athletic strength. Examples include:
What are anabolic steroids?
The terms steroids, “roids” or “juice” usually refer to anabolic steroids, which are synthetic (man-made) substances similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. The term “anabolic” refers to muscle growth. Anabolic steroids typically produce an increase in muscle mass and physical strength along with other changes such as increased hair growth on the face or chest and/or changes in a user’s voice. Users typically take a pill form or use a hypodermic needle to inject steroids directly into the blood stream.
Some common examples of anabolic steroids include:
What are the health risks from taking anabolic steroids?
There are many negative health risks associated with anabolic steroids, such as:
What are some of the warning signs that someone is taking anabolic steroids?
Steroids impact the level of hormones in the body, which can cause a wide range of emotions and behaviors. Aggressive or violent behavior, sometimes referred to as a “roid rage”, is often the most obvious sign that someone might be abusing steroids. Steroid abuse can also cause mild depression and irrational thinking.
Where can I get help to quit taking steroids?
If you or a friend are abusing steroids, talk to an adult you can trust for help - a school counselor, a teacher, your health care provider, your coach. Although it might be difficult to admit you have a problem, talking with someone is the first step to getting help.
What are the risks of taking stimulants, diuretics and other dietary supplements such as creatine?
Stimulants come in many forms such as caffeine, amphetamines (found in some cold medicines) and other illegal drugs like cocaine and methamphetamines. These substances can cause an increase in heart rate, blood pressure and metabolism. Athletes mistakenly believe these substances will increase alertness or aggressiveness on the field. However, the bad side affects such as decreased concentration, nervousness or not being able to sleep can cause more serious problems for a player’s performance, not to mention some serious health risks.
Diuretics change the balance of fluids in the body and are sometimes used to by wrestlers who are trying to compete in a lighter weight class. These substances often lead to dehydration (loss of water in the body), muscle cramps and tiredness.
Creatine is a substance found naturally in the body and is believed to help supply energy to muscles and nerve cells. When taken as a supplement, creatine is believed to help muscles recover faster during exercise and may reduce the amount of lactic acid (the stuff that makes you feel tired) produced during exercise. While this substance can be bought over-the-counter, the effects of creatine have not been proven. High doses can cause upset stomachs and muscle cramps as well as dehydration since muscles will absorb more water.
Are all performance-enhancing substances illegal?
Many performance-enhancing drugs, such as anabolic steroids, are illegal because of the health risks. While there are some medical uses for anabolic steroids, they are never prescribed to healthy young men for building muscles.
Ads for legal performance-enhancing substances and dietary supplements are all over the internet. Many of these so-called “legal” or “natural” substances have not been approved by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA), the office of our government that carefully researches the safety of products on the market. Taking a substance that has not been approved by the FDA could put your health at risk.
Remember that even natural substances can produce negative side effects, especially when taken in high doses. While some dietary supplements are legal, the long-term effects of those substances may not be clear.
If you are considering taking a performance-enhancing substance, talk with your health care provider about the potential side effects. |
Updated 3/24/08
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