| Reports
of anabolic steroid abuse by professional athletes, many
of whom are regarded as role models by young people, highlight
the fact that we are now facing a very damaging message
that is becoming pervasive in our society - that bigger
is better, and being the best is more important than how
you get there. There is great risk that adolescents will
be vulnerable to these messages about anabolic steroids
and will be far less concerned about the long-term health
risks to their bodies and their minds. Surprisingly, the
majority of teenage steroid users are not athletes. Some
young people turn to steroids to make themselves seem bigger
and more muscular (“ripped”), to attract girls
and impress friends. They often suffer from low self-esteem,
and like many others in their age cohort, are oblivious
to the side effects and long-term health consequences of
using steroids. This program explores the pervasiveness
of steroid use among high school kids and adults. The panel
discusses strategies for parents and professionals to engage
youth in talking about drug-free living.
www.steroidabuse.org
Dr. John Shumko |
Val Maroulis |
Dr. Vic Naumov |
Gerald Opthof
|
Joetta Clark Diggs |
Guests:
Dr. Vic Naumov - Founder and President
of the National Coalition for the Advancement of Drug-Free
Athletics.
Gerald Opthof - A licensed Clinical Drug
and Alcohol Counselor who also works with high school students.
Val Maroulis - Who began using steriods
to improve his performance on the wrestling team. Val is
now in recovery at Daytop New Jersey, a substance abuse
treatment facility for adolescents.
Joetta Clark Diggs - A four-time Olympian
who talks with kids about making healthy life choices.
Dr. John Shumko - A sports medicine physician
at the Saint Barnabas Ambulatory Care Center.
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