Habitual substances of abuse are not the only major cause of concern for parents and guardians. Another addition to the list is performance-enhancing supplements. According to a 2016 report from the American Academy of Pediatrics, the trend of misuse of performance-enhancing supplements by adolescents, who are not athletes, to improve their appearance is rapidly becoming a concern for adolescents. parents and the authorities of the country.
Report co-author Dr. Michele LaBotz said: “Physicians view the use of performance-enhancing substances as a problem for athletes, but many non-athletes are using these substances to improve appearance.”
American teenagers have been seen abusing a number of such supplements, including steroids, protein powders, diet pills, etc. The lack of regulation regarding these supplements presents greater risks for adolescents who abuse such products. Boys generally use more protein, steroid, caffeine, and creatine supplements, while girls patronize over-the-counter weight loss supplements.
According to experts, it is peer pressure that is forcing young people to accept such a risky proposal that it poses many risks for users.
Performance-enhancing substance abuse and cardiovascular problems
These supplements, which are often available over the counter, are likely addictive and laced with steroids, toxic heavy metals, such as lead and mercury, and stimulants. Dr. LaBotz said that these fortified supplements put teens at higher risk of becoming victims of cardiovascular problems. “If you are one of the many teens who already take stimulants for ADHD, you are increasing your risk of heart problems,” he said.
LaBotz said there are many irrevocable ill effects from the use of these supplements, as the use of some steroids could lead to delayed growth and growth of man boobs, which are difficult to reduce even after discontinuation of the supplements. .
The most prominent negative impact of the abuse of these performance-enhancing supplements is that they can lead to the abuse of other substances, such as alcohol or drugs, and teens can engage in other risky behaviors. LaBotz said that several studies corroborate this finding. The parents of these adolescents must be very attentive and carry out a periodic control of their children to determine if they have become addicted to any substance. It could be even more chaotic to fight the misuse of supplements alongside other illicit substances.
Therefore, it is only desirable to give regular education about the dangers of supplements to both adolescents and their parents. In fact, parents play a bigger role in fighting this problem because teens themselves may not understand the potential threats these supplements pose. It is the duty of parents to help children understand the consequences of the use and misuse of these supplements and to urge them to refrain from their possible abuse.
Regardless of whether the misuse of performance-enhancing supplements leads to addiction to other illegal drugs in teens or not, the side effects are enough to put their lives in danger. The enactment of legislation to regulate such supplements in the near future would be a welcome change.