11. Why Do Some Teens Use Steroids?
Many of today's young athletes feel pressure to get bigger, better and "win at all costs". Sometimes teens feel pressure from their parents, coach, teammates, and themselves.
They want to be buff, ripped, and chiseled. They want six-pack abs and granite-like pecs. And they want it quickly.
Steroids are appealing to teens because they come across as an easy way to overcome insecurities. A skinny kid can become the starting quarterback and a lean girl can whack a home run out of the park. During a time when their bodies are constantly changing, teens will do anything to achieve the look they want and the confidence they need to survive the high-school jungle.
Teens are under an enormous amount of pressure, not only to conform, but to stand out. Steroids seem like a quick fix to scrawny muscles, baby fat and a bruised ego.
Recently, more teen girls have started abusing steroids to enhance their physical appearance. According to USA Today, "Girls are looking for a way to get thinner, to reduce body fat — to conform to an idea of beauty they feel pressured to emulate."
Many teens don't associate steroids with drug use, since the main goal of using isn't to get high and mess up their bodies — but to improve them. This is a dangerous mentality considering the many serious side effects.