Anabolic steroid use by male adolescents.

TLDR

Anabolic steroids are increasingly used by athletes to enhance performance, yet many adolescents lack knowledge of their risks, underscoring the need for informed healthcare providers. The study aimed to assess the prevalence and awareness of anabolic steroid use among high‑school male adolescents in a southern state. Researchers administered a self‑report questionnaire to 853 male high‑school students across six schools, evaluating reasons for use, information sources, knowledge of physiological effects and complications, and sports involvement. Approximately 11% of surveyed students reported current or past anabolic steroid use, and many of them used these substances without a full understanding of the associated risks.

Abstract

Anabolic steroids have recently been used by professional and college athletes to improve athletic ability by increasing muscle size and strength. A study was done to determine the extent of steroid use and knowledge about these drugs in a population of high school male adolescents in a southern state. A self-report questionnaire, which allowed multiple answers for each question, was administered to 853 male students in six high schools. Results indicated that an average of 11% had used or were using anabolic steroids. The following were assessed: the reasons for steroid use, the sources from which the students received information about steroids, their familiarity with the physiologic effects and complications of steroid use, and the extent of their involvement in sports. The results suggest that a segment of male adolescents are using anabolic steroids without fully understanding the risks of such behavior. Health care providers need to become knowledgeable about steroids so that they may better educate adolescents about the potential deleterious effects of these agents.