Young adults who use steroids can experience stunted growth and irreversible effects, such as sterility in males, and masculine traits and breast reduction in females. Athletes aren't the only teens using steroids. Teens who are not involved with organized sports say they take these drugs to build muscle or look better, according to the survey. Some anabolic steroids are taken orally, others are injected intramuscularly, and still others are gels or creams that are rubbed on the skin. Doses taken by abusers can be 10 to 100 times higher than the doses used for legitimate medical conditions.
Some people even use compounds that are designed for veterinary use.
Abusers think that the different steroids interact to produce a greater effect on muscle size than that of each drug individually, even though there is no scientific proof. . In April, Detroit Tigers outfielder Juan Gonzalez signed the Healthy Competition Pledge, committing himself to remain free of performance-enhancing drugs and to support the Foundation's public education efforts. When I was a child, I lost a brother to the evils of drug use, and I feel it is very important to stand up and represent a positive alternative for young people in every way possible.