Are any of your children student athletes?
Have you taken the time to talk to your child about the dangers of performance-enhancing drugs? Elite level athletes aren't the only ones lured by the promise of a shortcut to increased strength and stamina. Currently, kids in high school and middle school are using these enhancement products and your child could be among them.
What are performance-enhancing drugs?
Performance-enhancing drugs are used to boost athletic performance, ward off fatigue and enhance physical appearance. They're also taken to increase muscle mass and strength. However, they can also cause harm with significant side effects.
Tips on Prevention
In addition to eliminating a “win at all costs” outlook and not allowing a permissive attitude about performance enhancers, here are additional suggestions:
- Parents should take a strong stance against the use of performance-enhancing substances.
- Coaches must be educated about the adverse health effects. If no education is being provided, it is essential that parents demand that education.
- Schools and other organizations should be proactive in discouraging the use of performance-enhancing substances. Such messages should be incorporated into school policies and educational materials for coaches, parents and athletes.
- Intervention programs should be developed that teach sound nutrition and training practices along with skills to resist the social pressures to use performance-enhancing substances.
- Coaches at all levels, including youth sports should encourage wholesome and fair competition by emphasizing healthy nutrition and training practices, taking a strong stance against “cheating” and avoiding the “win-at-all-costs” philosophy.
- Physicians should ask patients about use of performance-enhancing substances, just as they ask about use of tobacco, alcohol or other drugs.
- Parents should establish an open channel of communication that allows kids to ask questions about performance-enhancing substances, yet reinforces a child’s wise decision not to become a user.
Physicians should stress safe physical activity and sports participation by encouraging proper exercise, conditioning, nutrition, weight management, and injury prevention.