Why do teens take performing-enhancing drugs?
Weiss Kelly: High school athletes competing for college scholarships feel considerable pressure to succeed. Wanting to improve their performance, they may feel that supplements will help them become stronger and faster. Teens participating in track, football and wrestling are often at a higher risk for using supplements. Bodybuilders interested in enhancing their physiques may find anabolic steroids easily obtainable in community gyms. Girls may take anabolic steroids to decrease fat mass and build muscle mass. Teens who are teased for being “skinny” may also be at increased risk for using performance-enhancing drugs or supplements. Joy: Many athletes at all levels use performance-enhancing agents to improve speed, strength, attention, recovery or endurance. They may take them to help their training and see results such as improved quickness or power. Because of the potential to increase muscle mass, some teens may also use them to improve their physical appearance.
