NCJ Number
132617
Journal
Pediatric Clinics of North America Volume: 37 Issue: 5 Dated: (October 1990) Pages: 1111-1123
Date Published
1990
Length
13 pages
Annotation
Anabolic steroids are used by adolescents primarily to improve athletic performance, but also to enhance their appearance and obtain peer approval.
Abstract
Anabolic steroids are effective in three ways: (1) they convert a negative nitrogen balance to a positive one by improving the use of ingested protein and increasing nitrogen retention; (2) steroids compete for glucocorticosteroid receptors, causing an anticatabolic effect by blocking glucocorticosteroid effects of depressing protein synthesis during stressful training; and (3) athletes often experience a state of euphoria, increased aggressive behavior, and diminished fatigue with steroid use. Effects of anabolic steroids depend on the specific drug taken, the size and frequency of dose, the duration of use, the route of administration, and the user's age and health. Research has documented that anabolic steroids have endocrine and reproductive, cardiovascular and hematologic, hepatic, renal, musculoskeletal, dermatologic, and psychological effects and that they increase the risk of AIDS transmission and infection from improper handling of syringes and needles. With appropriate knowledge about the effects of anabolic steroids, primary care physicians can adequately educate teenagers, parents, teachers, and coaches and can screen for steroid use if necessary. Procedures to be followed by primary care physicians in screening adolescents for steroid use and developing appropriate intervention strategies are described. 51 references and 3 tables