The Dangerous Health Effects of Steroids - Educational Video PSA
Wednesday, November 5th, 2008The public domain public service announcement video: “Squeezing Out the Juice: Tackling the Steroid Issue”. Winning is everything to some athletes, and they’ll do anything they can to make it happen, even take illegal drugs. Steroids have become a hot topic recently, from professional athletes down to little kids in recreational leagues. Congress has tackled the issue and many athletes and others are clamoring for more of a response. During this hour-long broadcast, learn about the health effects of steroids and hear how the pressure to win influences choices people make. See what the DEA, legislators, sports leagues, and schools are doing about performance-enhancing drugs. Some local coalitions are forming steroids task forces in their areas. Find out how their experience can help you and your local coalition spread the word. Learning Objectives: Learn who is using steroids and why; Learn about the dangerous health effects steroids cause; Hear how two programs targeted to high school athletes teaches them about the dangers of steroids and how you can get involved; Find out what one coalition is doing about the problem in their area; Anabolic steroid abuse has been associated with a wide range of adverse side effects ranging from some that are physically unattractive, such as acne and breast development in men, to others that are life threatening. Most of the effects are reversible if the abuser stops taking the drug, but some can be permanent. In addition to the physical effects, anabolic steroids can also cause increased irritability and aggression. Some of the health consequences that can occur in both males and females include liver cancer, heart attacks, and elevated cholesterol levels. In addition to this, steroid use among adolescents may prematurely stop the lengthening of bones resulting in stunted growth. People who inject steroids also run the risk of contracting or transmitting hepatitis or HIV. Some steroid abusers experience withdrawal symptoms when they stop taking the drug. These withdrawal symptoms include mood swings, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, and depression. This depression can lead to suicide attempts, and if left untreated, can persist for a year or more after the abuser stops taking the drugs. Primary target audiences for this program will include law enforcement officials, drug prevention specialists, Drug-Free Communities Act grantees, administrators, school drug counselors, high school athletic officials, treatment providers, drug court members, policy makers, business leaders, coalition volunteers, drug demand reduction coordinators, criminal justice professionals, members of the religious community and other community partners who may be interested. This program is also suitable for Public Access television distribution. Sponsored by Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training (MCTFT) as a public service announcement; public domain. This program is made possible through a partnership with the Multijurisdictional Counterdrug Task Force Training (MCTFT) Program at St. Petersburg College and the Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America (CADCA), with the technical support of the Satellite Education Network (SEN) at Ft. Lee, VA.