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Performance-enhancing drugs and your teen athlete
Is your teenager involved in athletics? If so, you need to know about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs and supplements.
By Mayo Clinic staffAre you the parent of a student athlete? If you are, your life is probably as hectic as your child's. But in your daily rounds of carpools, practices and games, have you taken the time to talk to your child about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs? Pro athletes and Olympians aren't the only ones lured by the promise of a shortcut to increased strength and stamina. Kids in high school and middle school are using these products, too. And your child could be among them.
What are performance-enhancing drugs and supplements?
Performance-enhancing drugs and supplements are used to boost athletic performance, ward off fatigue and enhance physical appearance. They're also taken to increase muscle mass and strength. But they can cause serious harm. Here's a look at some of the substances your son or daughter might be using.
- Creatine. Creatine is a naturally occurring compound in the body that is also sold as an over-the-counter supplement. It's primarily used to enhance recovery after a workout and increase muscle mass and strength. Creatine is popular with athletes who participate in sports in which short bursts of power are required. Examples include football, gymnastics, hockey and wrestling. Side effects include weight gain, nausea and muscle cramps. High doses of creatine have the potential to harm the kidneys.
- Anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of testosterone. They build muscle and increase strength, and are particularly popular with bodybuilders and football players. Anabolic steroids can halt bone growth and result in a permanently short stature, so they're particularly dangerous for still-growing adolescents. Steroids can also damage the heart and liver.
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Steroid precursors. Steroid precursors, such as androstenedione ("andro") and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), are substances that the body converts into anabolic steroids. They are used to increase muscle mass.
The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 made most steroid precursors illegal without a prescription. DHEA is the only one that is still available in over-the-counter preparations. Side effects of steroid precursors are similar to those for steroids.
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- Castillo EM, et al. Prevalence of use of performance-enhancing substances among United States adolescents. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2007;54:663.
- Tips for teens: The truth about steroids. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information. http://ncadi.samhsa.gov/govpubs/phd726/. Accessed Oct. 24, 2008.
- National Institute on Drug Abuse research report series: Anabolic steroid abuse. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: National Institutes of Health. http://www.drugabuse.gov/ResearchReports/Steroids/Anabolicsteroids.html. Accessed Oct. 24, 2008.
- Steroid precursors can block teen athletes from their goals. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. http://family.samhsa.gov/be/athblocked.aspx. Accessed Oct. 24, 2008.
- Gregory AJM, et al. Sports medicine: Performance-enhancing drugs. Pediatric Clinics of North America. 2007;54:797.
- American Academy of Pediatrics' Committee on Sports Medicine and Fitness. Use of performance-enhancing substances. Pediatrics. 2005;115:1103.
- van den Berg P, et al. Steroid Use Among Adolescents: Longitudinal findings From Project EAT. Pediatrics. 2007;119:476.
