According to Partnership For A Drug Free America Performance enhancing substances are not limited to just anabolic androgenic steroids. Other performance enhancing substances include, Stimulants such as Amphetamines and Ephedrine, Human Growth Hormone (“HGH”) and testosterone among others.
There are many risks associated with using any of these substances. First and foremost, there are dangerous short and long-term side effects. Whether a performance enhancing substance is purchased over-the-counter or illegally is irrelevant; their toll on the body could be deadly. Other consequences of using performance enhancing substances include sanctions from sports governing bodies, loss of past awards and titles, being banned from participating in your sport, and facing public shame and humiliation from being labeled a cheater.
Performance enhancing substances are especially dangerous for teens because their bodies are still developing. Teens who choose to use performance enhancing substances might see changes in their physical appearance, but they may also experience severe physical side effects like stomach pain, nausea, diarrhea, muscle cramps, and mood swings. Use of many performance enhancing substances can also lead to serious kidney, liver, and heart problems.
If a teenager is considering whether or not to abuse a performance enhancing substance, it is important to remember the value in healthy competition. Winning isn’t everything, especially when you are risking your health and reputation to get ahead. Even if you’re using a legal performance enhancing substance, you are still putting your health and body at risk. Parents should know the facts about performance enhancing substances so that they can have an educated conversation with their teen about the dangers and consequences of using these substances.
"The Partnership for a Drug-Free America" and Major League Baseball are proud to introduce a new online resource to educate teens about the dangers of steroids and other performance enhancing substances and encourage them to "Play Healthy." In addition to comprehensive information about the risks of performance enhancing substances, the site provides parents, caregivers and coaches with the tools to communicate with teens and drive home the message that it's not worth risking their health to get ahead in sports.
Parents and coaches can download a free Talk Kit to help guide conversations about the value of healthy competition among young athletes, and a new blog, Coaches Corner, offers a place to connect with others on this important health issue.
Visit drugfree.org/playhealthy now, and learn how to keep the teens in your life on the healthy track and prevent drug abuse.Please get involved we need you! Every parent like you has valuable information that we desire. Whether it was learned professionally, academically or our favorite, through trial and error; it is all valuable information to us and our blog members. Its free, it's easy, its fun and we need your help to build it. Thank you for helping us help others we appreciate it. |
