Treinamento desportivo

ACSM CURRENT COMMENT

Anabolic Steroids
The use of drugs to enhance strength and endurance has been observed for thousands of years. Today, individuals, including adolescents, continue to employ a variety of drugs, such as anabolic steroids, in hope of improving their athletic performance and appearance.
Anabolic steroids are not mood altering immediately following administration. Instead, the appetite for these drugs has been created predominantly by our societal fixations on winning and physical appearance.
Anabolic steroids are synthetic versions of the primary male sex hormone, testosterone.
Testosterone, produced primarily by the testes, is responsible for the masculinization and muscle growth during male adolescence. Anabolic steroids are administered primarily in the oral and injectable forms, and needle sharing has been reported, especially among adolescents. These drugs are usually obtained from black market sources, which often include distributors of other illegal drugs.
Individuals who use anabolic steroids, particularly those experienced in weight training, will experience increases in strength and muscle significantly beyond those observed from training alone. Regardless, the use of anabolic steroids is not without negative consequences. First, steroid use is illegal and in violation of state and federal laws. Second, it's considered cheating! To protect the health of the athletes and to maintain the spirit of fair competition, virtually all organizations overseeing athletic competitions, including the
National Federation of State High School Associations, oppose the use of anabolic steroids.
However, many adolescents who use anabolic steroids do not participate in schoolsponsored sports. Third, adolescent steroid users are exposing themselves to potentially serious health problems during the physically and emotionally vulnerable period when their own hormonal cycles are changing. Physical health concerns associated with