Sports today are becoming more and more competitive and athletes, especially younger athletes, are finding different ways to enhance their performance. Unfortunately, instead of finding healthy ways to do this, they often turn to ergogenic drugs. These drugs vary from illegal substances, such as anabolic steroids, to over the counter supplements, such as creatine. A study at Brown University School of medicine has found that teens are using performance enhanced drugs that include anabolic-androgenic steroids, androstenedione and dehydroepiandrosterone, growth hormone, nutritional supplements, creatine, and ephedrine. For a complete list of drugs being used and the negative effects of each one, check out http://www.education.com/reference/article/Ref_Sports_supplements/.
If you are to encounter someone that is either taking these performance enhancement drugs or is interested in trying them, you should encourage healthy ways such as proper exercise, good nutrition, and proper weight training. Using these drugs could seriously effect someones performance in negative ways. It could even terminate a person's athletic career early. Try challenging this person to get build their ability using hard work without using these unnecessary, potentially harmful drugs!
