Teen athletes are not immune to drug abuse

While involvement in sports and extracurricular activities can play an important role in preventing teen drug use, don't assume your children are immune to the pressures of using drugs, alcohol or steroids because of their participation in athletics. In fact, pressure to win may increase the odds of steroid use, even by teenagers. All teens are at risk.

Win or lose, support your teenager's participation in sports. Whether at the team or individual level, in sports that are recreational or competitive, the benefits of being involved are immeasurable. Being active in sports builds character, commitment, good judgment, healthy bodies, social skills and lifelong friendships.

Even though professional sports and athletes may send especially confusing signals to a young athlete about the consequences of drug use, parents can set the record straight by explaining the repercussions and understanding prevalence of drug use.

According to the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign:

Every day, approximately 4,700 American youths ages 12-17 try marijuana for the first time.

By the time they reach eighth grade, nearly half of all teens have had at least one drink of alcohol. More than 20 percent say they have been "drunk."

More teens are in treatment for a primary diagnosis of marijuana dependency than for all other illicit drugs combined.

As many as 1.1 million young people ages 12-17 have taken a performance-enhancing drug or sport supplement. Many sports supplements are easily available to teens at stores, on the Internet and from other sources.

Anabolic steroids, typically available only by prescription, were used by 2.1 percent of 12th- graders surveyed in 2003.

Parents can show their young athlete that they care about his or her success by learning as much as they can about how using illegal substances like marijuana, speed (amphetamines and methamphetamine), steroids and alcohol can compromise their athletic performance, and by being mindful of the fact that steroids and other sports supplements can be particularly appealing to teen athletes, especially those feeling pressure to succeed in competitive sports. Teens may believe that using certain supplements can help them be winners. But the fact is that there are no shortcuts.

In fact, alcohol can:

reduce water content of the body, causing dehydration;

damage the liver, heart, brain and other organs;

reduce testosterone levels in boys, compromising muscle strength;

lead to poor academic performance and keep young athletes off their school teams.

Marijuana can:

decrease speed, balance, depth perception, hand-eye coordination and reaction times;

can affect breathing, causing shortness of breath;

cause uncontrolled aggression, violence and personality changes;

slow reaction times, cause confusion and hinder judgment;

lead to memory loss, increased anxiety, panic attacks, depression and other mental health problems, and in some cases is associated with social withdrawal and thoughts of suicide.

Steroids can:

damage the liver, kidney, heart, brain and other organs, in some cases causing tumors that can lead to cancer;

decrease agility and quickness;

cause stunted growth, baldness and infertility in boys;

cause male-like side effects including a permanently deeper voice, facial hair growth and changes in menstruation in girls;

decrease enthusiasm and motivation;

cause uncontrolled aggression, violence and personality changes;

produce withdrawal symptoms in abusers such as mood swings, insomnia and depression, which can lead to suicide attempts.

Amphetamines and methamphetamine can:

damage the body's ability to regulate body temperature, leading to heatstroke;

damage the liver, heart, brain and other organs;

cause uncontrolled aggression, violence and personality changes.

The following are several signs and symptoms of drug use that parents can look for:

Unexpected rapid increase in muscle size

Severe acne on face, chest and back

Appearance of jaundice

Uncharacteristic withdrawal from family, friends or interests, or change in friends

Isolation, depression, fatigue

Hostility, aggression and lack of cooperativeness

Change in eating and sleeping habits, and lack of interest in personal appearance

Heightened secrecy about actions or possessions

A drop in school attendance or academic performance

For more information on teens and drug use, or to get involved with your local youth drug prevention program, contact the HELP Committee and Boys & Girls Club of the Hi-Line at 265-6206.