Performance Enhancing Drugs in Youth Sports

PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS IN YOUTH SPORTS

STATEMENT OF THESIS

The phenomenon of the use of performing-enhancing in youth sports is increasing . The addresses the trend , the causes and useful practical ways of stemming this tide

INTRODUCTION

The use of performance-enhancing drugs in youth is daily increasing This particularly incidence has mainly been an activity that is common among the young males . It is unfortunate that the media has played a major role in this . The use of steroids and other supplements have added another perspective at the way we should

look at excellent performance on the sport field

It used to be a thing of resounding joy in the past when parents accompany their wards to the field of play to watch them display their inherent and undiluted skills . Every body waits eagerly to see the results and rewards of those days and nights of relentless efforts , the encouragements and slander of peers and colleagues on the training pitch , moral backing of parents and friends on the mini-home pitch Then , the winner usually deserves it but the scenario has turned a new leaf with the current trends in use of aids to improve performance in sports

Character has a major place in this whole picture . The acts pass a major message to all who care to find out : Excellence is fast evading our tables . Men and omen are looking for short cuts to be rich . It is no longer fashionable to get results by hard work . It is no longer the norm to make grand achievements that would bring glory to the club , locality or nation represented . The trend is to cut corners to get to the pinnacle of excellence . This would obviously not last as we have seen in the life of already known culprits of these acts . Lasting results are fair and moral they do not cheat on any one else to make rewards Something needs be done otherwise the character crisis would depreciate and permeate all aspects of life , aside sports

THE HISTORY OF PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS

This can be traced to the activities of notable Sportsmen and women like Tommy Simpson , Kornelia Ender , Ben Johnson , Petra Schneider , Maria Jones and others who were found to test positive to the use of these steroids at major international competitions where they represented the nation It must have been a big shame to be disqualified for their illicit activities a big disappointment for their sports industry and a stain on other sportsmen in such countries

It should be noticed that the acts are not without a Conspiracy theory between health care professionals who engage in the provision of these drugs to these sports-individuals . The officials associated with this people are also involved

This history has also immediately stimulated actions at curbing by the act . Steps have been taken by government , athletic federations all over the world , and organizing committee of international competitions . On importance are the anti-doping principles of 1967 by the International Olympic Committee which includes protection of the athletes ' health respect for medical and sports ethics and ensuring an equal chance for everyone during competition . Testing techniques have been improved upon over the years and many more corporations are joining the fight

DOPING OR USE OF PERFORMANCE ENHANCINGS SUBSTANCES

The use of Performance enhancing drugs can also be called doping . The word `doping ' is said to be South African in origin . It describes all ingested , inhaled and substances that gain entrance into the body system of an athlete through other means , and methods employed with a view to increasing performance

These include such practices such as the injection of anabolic steroids to promote protein synthesis within muscles , and thus increase muscle cell size and number practice of hemoglobin transfusions and the use of synthetic erythropoietin (EPO ) to promote haemopoiesis , that is increased erythrocyte production . This increases the workability of the blood to deliver oxygen for energy production by muscle fibres . Other substances include stimulants which have central nervous system effects they increase synaptic transmission and nerve excitability

These practices have taken a new dimension with the introduction of special drugs commonly called designer steroids . These steroids contain tetrahydrogestri (THG ) and have been declared unapproved by the Food and Drug Agency [FDA] . The common steroids used include testosterone androstenedione , and stanozol . These are injected or taken orally through a cycling phase . These involve intermittent use of the drugs over a period of time . During this time , the physical appearance of the individual is more masculine and performance escalated

HEALTH HAZARDS OF STEROIDS

The hazards that arise from the use of the anabolic steroids are sensitive to age and gender . The general ones are increasing susceptibility to develop cancer of the liver , with or without accompanying jaundice , edema [retention of body fluids] , increased blood pressure , increased risk of developing arteriosclerosis arising from high LDL [bad cholesterol] in the blood

In men , these steroids increase risk for early development of benign prostatic hyperplasia and carcinoma of the prostrate . There can also be oligospermia [reduced sperm count] and altered libido . In women , there is generalized male body patterns and development of male pubertal features such as increased hair growth , deepened voice , enlargement of the clitoris , and risk of developing baldness , distortion of menstrual and ovarian cycles

In young people , there is distorted body growth especially of the musculoskeletal system which is the prime site of these drugs . It can also affect assimilation and encourages dependence . In the situation young people are dependent on it for performance at school and on the field , especially if combined with stimulants . Adults are , however , at risk of developing adult-onset diseases such as hypertension atherosclerosis , ischemic heart diseases and others

Apart form these there are obvious mood swings for such people as well as aggression and depression . There is also associated dietary dis and inordinate bowel habits

DOPING IN YOUTH SPORTS

The use of performance enhancing drugs among youth has been on the increase in recent times . These have been confirmed by parents and sports officials . The major cause of this is the twisted way the media has presented the issue of doping . Defending the use of these banned drugs in certain quarters of the media is doing no good to the situation

Adolescents and teenagers are people who are `just molding ' their lives It is no news that their participation and performance in sports have been largely influenced by these sport stars they see on the screen Their interest is also more heightened by the high lucrative nature of being a sport-person . When these are things are done , and no major serious actions are taken at dealing with these culprits , there is a latent encouragement for these people to try it

On trial , they usually discover that is works . The reasons promoted for its use are tested and found to be correct . They are angry with those who oppose their acts , and justify their positions even citing these stars as examples . If parents are not available to check this , nor the school officials , they think it is the right thing to do and continue until success embraces shame when they test positive

This is the real picture of how this monster has grown among young people and the sports they partake in especially very competitive ones Extensive work has been done by the Monitoring the Future Survey

They show the incidence of drug use among the Nation 's 8th , 10th , and 12th grade students that for the classes , there have been significant reductions for both sexes since 2001 . However , in through 2005 to 2006 the trend has become constants . Besides , the perceived risk of steroid use by seniors increased significantly from 56 .8 percent in 2005 to 60 .2 percent in 2006

DEALING WITH THE CHALLENGE

It is important that the use of performance enhancing drugs should be discouraged . It aids no value to character . On the long run , it gives no lasting joy for a fruitful work . The health hazards associated with are also enormous . These should stem its tide

Arriving at a conscious decision to stop , if in the processing of using it is a difficult that requires strong will power and prompt medical rehabilitation interventions . What is pertinent is that its impact on society is degrading . An act that does not promote excellence but cheats need be shunned by all . There fore , all hands must be on deck for a purposeful and victorious fight

The rules of major anti-doping agencies in countries should be staunchly enforced . The World Anti doping agency , with headquarters in Canada should be complemented by national athletic association . These would give the fight a bold face , and perpetrators would desist from the acts All arms of government must be poised to effect a change : the legislators should promptly pass anti-doping bills , the judiciary decides cases faster and with fairness without prejudice and the executives need make funds available for implementation of anti-drug policies by public agencies involved . Private organizations should be encouraged to join in the campaign

The family is the unit of society . Parents need also be very vigilant with their kids , especially teenagers . Effective communication parent-child is vital for this . With this in place , the first place is secured and the society is saved some stress

HEALTH SECTOR PARTICIPATION

The health sector has dual role to play here . Since these drugs are available on prescription for

Primary ailments that require increased performance , and improved masculine traits in deficient men , it poses a challenge of accessibility . If people still have access , the trend may continue . The health centers are also the places of last resort for the patients who present with complications of drug use

Besides , health practitioners do have a major role to play in dealing with this challenge

CONCLUSION

Performance enhancing drugs should be discouraged at all levels . Society need to embrace the character of hard work for optimum performance

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Maxwell , Mehlmann . Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports Accessed from HYPERLINK "http /www .thedoctorwillseeyounow .com /articles /bioethics /perfdrugs www .thedoctorwillseeyounow .com /articles /bioethics /perfdrugs

Performance Enhancing Drugs in Teens . Accessed from ww .mayoclinic .com /health /performance-enhancing-drugs

Drugs and Sports Accessed from www .whitehousedrugpolicy .gov /prevent /sports /doping .html

Drugs in sports . Accessed form HYPERLINK "http /www .druglibrary .org /encyclopedia /drugs-in-sports www .druglibrary .org /encyclopedia /drugs-in-sports

World Anti-doping Agency . Accessed from HYPERLINK "http /www .wada-ama .org " www .wada-ama .org

NIDA : Steroids . Accessed from HYPERLINK "http /www .nida .nih .gov /Infofacts /Steroids .html http /www .nida .nih .gov /Infofacts /Steroids .html

Facts on Drugs : Anabolic Steroids . Accessed from www teens .drugabuse .gov /facts /facts

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