Steroids: Big Muscles, Bigger Problems

A lot of time, energy, and media coverage has been spent trying to figure out which high-profile athletes have or have not used steroids, and whether or not the users still belong in the record books. Lost in the shuffle is the story of the damage that steroids can cause, not just to celebrity sports stars but to everyday young people—including teenage girls, the fastest-growing demographic group of steroid users in America. Hosted by ESPN.com reporter Tom Murray, this video brings hard facts, straight talk, and inconvenient truths to the problem of steroid use among male and female teenagers. It illustrates the biochemical basics of anabolic steroids and their synthetic relationship to testosterone; their general impact on the human anatomy and how they can be especially devastating in young people whose bodies aren’t fully developed; and the specific medical risks of steroid use, both in the short term and over an extended period. The psychological risks, most notably suicidal depression, are also presented, in addition to the little-known fact that many over-the-counter diet supplements are spiked with anabolic steroids. Essential viewing for any health, guidance, or physical education program. A viewable/printable instructor’s guide is available online. A Cambridge Educational Production. (25 minutes)