In a recent statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) stated that it “strongly condemns the use of performance-enhancing substances and vigorously endorses efforts to eliminate their use among children and adolescents.” According to the AAP, Boys Town Pediatrics and hundreds of other organizations, performance-enhancing substances are unhealthy and provide an unfair, dishonest advantage that is equal to “cheating.”

Side Effects

Although virtually no research has been conducted on the effects of performance-enhancing substances on adolescents, countless well-designed studies show that these substances impact a person’s physical, emotional and cognitive well-being.

Some of the physical side effects of performance-enhancing substances include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver damage, severe acne, reduction in normal testosterone production in males, irregular menstrual cycle in girls and stunted growth. Emotional and cognitive side effects that can be just as damaging include, overly-aggressive behavior, volatile mood swings that can lead to violence, impaired learning, weakening of short-term memory and impaired judgment.

Scare Tactics Not Effective

Parents of teenagers are well aware that “scare tactics” for this age group generally do not work. Most teens have the general attitude that even though bad things happen to others, “Nothing bad will happen to me.” Therefore, the AAP advises parents, physicians, coaches, schools and youth sporting organizations take a different approach to steer kids clear of performance-enhancing substances that includes changing general views about sports and not allowing authority figures to take a permissive attitude about use of such substances.

Changing Attitudes

Changing the general attitude toward sports is the first step toward preventing teens and young adults from using performance enhancers. “Success (that is, winning) is considered by many to be the most important goal of sports,” claims the AAP. For example, in professional sports winning the Super Bowl, the World Series or the World Cup is the ultimate goal of most athletes. Our youth look up to professional athletes and many will do anything in hopes of achieving their success. The AAP and others insist that the attitude toward sports should instead focus on the principles of fair competition and upstanding character.

Not allowing adults who are responsible for youth sports programs to be permissive of performance-enhancing substances is the second step toward prevention. According to the AAP, adults cannot take a permissive attitude toward performance-enhancing substances. “Permissiveness often has the same effect as active encouragement when it comes to using performance-enhancing substances,” states the AAP report. In short, parents must take an active stance against coaches and other adults who have a ‘don’t-ask’ attitude.

Parents Can Prevent use of Performance Enhancers

In addition to eliminating a “win at all costs” outlook and not allowing a permissive attitude about performance enhancers, the AAP makes several other suggestions for parents, physicians, coaches, schools and youth sporting organizations:

• 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.