Steroids: Is Bigger Really Better?

In 1935, testosterone was synthesized in Germany and was originally used to treat depression. It was misused in 1954 to make the Russian weightlifters stronger than anyone else in preparation for the 1956 Olympics. An American physician created a more selective form of it, and that’s what we know as steroids today.

Since then, athletes of every sport have wanted to gain the extra edge to jump higher, lift heavier weights, run faster and simply be better than anyone. And that mindset has spread to high schoolers.

Most everyone knows what steroids are and what they do on the outside, but not as many know what they do chemically. Steroids produce a synthetic type of testosterone, adding to the amount our bodies make, and as WebMD put it, “But like all hormones — which regulate the body’s most basic functions — throwing one’s testosterone out of balance can have wide-ranging consequences.”

Although it seems great and effective from the outside, the side effects don’t get much attention. Some common results of its use include: severe acne, oily skin and hair, liver tumors and cysts, kidney and heart disease, altered mood, and high blood pressure.

But with all these dangerous results, why do teens still feel the need to use it? Pressure.

With all of the pressure to become better from social media, coaches, teammates and even teenagers themselves, steroids seem like a great idea. They want to impress their friends, get records, win games, and for aspiring athletes looking to compete in more than just a high school career, sign with a college.

The Recovery Village said this, “Colleges offer admission and generous athletic scholarships to talented and prolific high school athletes. But the competition is fierce. A student’s athletic performance in high school can have an enormous impact on getting into the schools they want — which can impact the rest of their lives, as well.”

And sometimes it isn’t the people around them that influence them the most, it’s the professionals that play in that sport. The Recovery Village goes on to say, “Steroid use in professional sports is a bigger deal than we may think. Studies have suggested that upwards of 10% of famous athletes may be using steroids. For burgeoning high school athletes, these pros are their role models, their heroes and their idols. If the people they’re looking up to are using performance-enhancing drugs to get ahead, why shouldn’t it start in high school? It’s a classic case of “monkey see, monkey do.”’

Steroids are dangerous. The pressure is higher than ever to use them and become the best. People supporting the use of steroids seem to be everywhere, but so are people’s knowledge of the dangers of it. High school athletes need to make the right decision to avoid them now rather than struggle with it again later. It seems like an easy solution, but it’s a costly one.

“Never make permanent decisions based on temporary feelings.”