Steroid Use Down Among Adolescents

(I-Newswire) January 11, 2006 - The driving force behind competition has led individuals within various athletic arenas to tarnish themselves, their sport and their country by using performance-enhancing drugs. For example, Major League Baseball may never be the same after the BALCO scandal and questions over possibly tainted records.

The most recent athlete to hit headlines is Sesil Karatantcheva, a teenage female tennis player from Bulgaria. After her second failed drug test for performance-enhancing drugs, Karatantcheva has now been banned for two years by the International Tennis Federation.

The effect of professional athletes and other role models using illegal substances can be devastating to our nation's youth. Steroid use among 12th grade students more than doubled from 1991 to 2004, but thankfully this last year the use dropped to less than 2%, according to the 2005 Monitoring the Future survey.

Since the 1950s, some athletes have been taking anabolic steroids to build muscle and boost their athletic performance. Regardless of whether it is considered right or wrong in athletics, there are plenty of documented health risks and side effects associated with steroids. In addition to this there is the abuse potential and the possibility of leading to addiction to other drugs as well.

Teens that use steroids are also prone to engage in other risky behaviors. For example, one study found that teen steroid users were more likely to use alcohol and illicit drugs, practice risky sex and engage in suicidal behavior.

"We do see a number of people that have become addicted to stimulants such as cocaine, crack and methamphetamine as a result of their steroid use," reports a representative from Narconon Arrowhead, which is one of the largest and most successful drug rehabilitation and education programs in the nation.

When dealing with addiction, to steroids or any other drugs, it is important to handle the situation without using more chemicals that alter the body. Though it sounds simple, too many treatment programs attempt to treat the problem with more drugs in an effort to "restore balance."

Narconon Arrowhead, which is based on research and developments by American author and humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard, uses an entirely drug-free approach instead. The effective methods used include restoring natural health through exercise, a sauna detoxification program and dietary supplements.

To find out more information about drugs or to get help for a loved one in need, contact Narconon Arrowhead today at 1-800-468-6933 or log on to www.stopaddiction.com.

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Narconon Arrowhead