Doping among adolescent athletes.
The use of drugs to enhance physical performance and appearance has been observed for thousands of years. Today individuals, including adolescents, continue to employ a wide variety of drugs in the hope of improving their athletic performance and looking better. Unfortunately, beyond the assessment of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use, very little is known regarding the use, safety and efficacy of other performance-enhancing drugs and nutritional supplements among adolescents. Most studies report that 3-12% of adolescent males admit to using an AAS at some time during their life. Among adolescent females, studies find that 1-2% report having used steroids. The current strategy for dealing with performance-enhancing drug use by adolescents is multi-faceted and primarily involves education and prevention strategies, interdiction and drug testing programmes. However, the demand for performance-enhancing drugs has been created by our societal fixation on winning and physical appearance. In order to alter the current use of performance-enhancing drugs by adolescents, we as a society must come to grips with our addiction to sport and the importance we place on winning and appearance. We must change our values.
Yesalis
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Department of Health Policy and Administration, Pennsylvania State University, University Park 16802, USA.
Bahrke
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D000293:Adolescent; D045930:Anabolic Agents; D004300:Doping in Sports / Q000517:prevention & control; D004989:Ethics; D006266:Health Education; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010807:Physical Endurance; D013177:Sports; D015813:Substance Abuse Detection
D045930:Anabolic Agents