The Effects of Steroid Use by Adolescents

shall begin with the psychological dangers. The fact of the matter is that puberty effects more than just physical maturing, but also many personality characteristics that last your entire lives. Puberty is the period in which many influences, as well as practices will contain the most "sticking power". The problem is that steroids can lead to serious health problems, and that the sooner you start taking them the earlier the problems may occur. This is also the time where many insecurities and dependencies develop, and it can be very difficult to change these. Adolescence is not a good time to make any decision that can affect the rest of your life, like the decision to use drugs. The chemical make-up of a teen-age boy is extremely complex, and the complications steroids cause can be very detrimental.

In my opinion, the most detrimental thing that could happen is the stunting of growth plates. During adolescence the growth plates are not set, and foreign testosterone will very easily halt the entire process. What does this mean? This means that if you are 5'6" right now, then you will always be 5'6". Neither the NBA, nor the NFL will be knocking on your door anytime soon. The other complications involve extreme bone pain, as not all of your growth plates may set. Some may set, and others may not, it's a big gamble not worth taking. This is not to mention the liver toxicity, vascular damage, kidney damage, and joint problems.

There is no valid reason for adolescents to use steroids. For one, as I told one of you, you have more testosterone running through your veins than I do. Secondly, have patience, most of the mail I received was from kids who had only been working out for a very short while. Then there was the mail that especially upset me. This guy wanted to use steroids because there was some bully at school who kept abusing