"I wanted to be the best swimmer and black female athlete ever."
� Grace, 17

Adolescents are quick to pick up from media and societal messages which drugs are �cool� to experiment with. In the last five years, steroids have had increased media attention and availability. The statistics reflect a subsequent increase in steroid abuse in youth.

What are Androgenic-Anabolic Steroids?

Steroids are �two-faced,� if you will. As nurses we learn about the steroids that treat diseases like asthma and arthritis. Steroids are also used to enhance physical appearance and athletic performance. Thus far, our nursing research and literature fails to explore the illegal side of these drugs.

Used since the 1950s to improve athletic performance, including stamina, decreased body fat and increased lean muscle mass, endurance, and strength, steroids are both oral and injected. They are synthetic male hormones that have both short- and long-term side effects, which are irreversible and debilitating. Steroids are most prevalent in sports that involve strength and stamina, namely weight lifting, swimming, wrestling, football, dance and team sports.

Adolescents and Steroids � What do we need to know?

From age 13 � 19, this is a time of self-exploration by questioning themselves and those around them. During this time of questioning, the adolescent may experiment and face challenges surrounding drugs and alcohol, peer pressure, and achievement. During these challenges, the adolescent may experience a perceived loss of control and power over their lives.

In adolescence, self-image is dependent on both the physical self and the personal self. Body image, sensations, and emotions determine the physical self, which directly influences the personal self, determined by confidence and esteem. Inconsistencies in their self-image will place the youth at greater risk for steroid abuse, as they look for ways in which to alter their physical appearance or personal self.