Return to Transcripts main page
CNN Live At Daybreak
New Concerns About Steroid Use by Adolescents
Aired June 16, 2003 - 06:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We've heard about steroid use in professional athletes. Now a new study reveals new concerns about steroid use by adolescents, teenagers.
Here to talk more at this live from the American Medical Association meeting in Chicago is Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.
Thanks for joining us, Sandra, from Chicago.
We appreciate it.
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, thank you, Carol, and good morning.
And this is a new report from the American Medical Association that highlights some disturbing trends in the use of steroids by adolescents. What the study found, which, in a review of 50,000 adolescents that were surveyed each year, is that four percent of high school seniors have used steroids. And this is the highest level ever.
And for eighth and tenth graders, their past use in the last 30 days has also reached an overall high. It's higher than ever in the past decade, as well. And there's also evidence that fifth, sixth and seventh graders are also beginning to use steroids.
And let's take a closer look at some of the details in this report. What they found is that Caucasian students were more likely to use steroids than African-American students. Male high school students were more likely to use steroids than females, although the gap is narrowing. And, in fact, young women are showing the most rapid increase in steroid use and most of it is seen in young women who are participating in sports.
COSTELLO: Yes, I was going to say, with more women playing soccer and basketball and softball, you can see why many more young girls would be taking steroids. But I shiver to think of what that can do to a young person who's still growing.
FRYHOFER: Well, there are some concerning things that a lot of these kids don't realize. Think about growth changes. These steroids can cause the growth plates to close prematurely, meaning that kids can stop growing too soon. Also, steroids can cause mood changes, including a tendency to aggressive and violent behavior.
Now, as if adolescents going through puberty aren't already moody enough, they can also cause liver problems, elevation of the liver tests. There have even been some case reports of liver tumors, even liver cancer. They can also raise the blood pressure, raise the bad cholesterol, the LDL. There have been several cases of steroids being linked to heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.
And, steroids can also lower the sperm count. It can decrease the size of the testicles. In women, it can cause menstrual problems. It can also cause hair to grow in unwanted places, cause acne and lower the voice.
COSTELLO: Wow. Tell us more about this report, where it came from and how passionate doctors are about this.
FRYHOFER: Well, this report was presented over the weekend to the Reference Committees. It will be, it will go to the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association later this week for action. And at a minimum, this report raises awareness of the, of this trend we're seeing about the use of steroids in adolescents and it could be that the AMA decides to partner with other organizations to do something about it. And it could even involve possibly giving some of these steroid precursors that are in some of the food supplements made prescription drugs.
So a lot can be done. We'll just see what the AMA does later this week.
COSTELLO: And parents should help out, too, by keeping a closer eye on their kids, perhaps. It's tough, though.
FRYHOFER: And kids need to understand these dangers, as well.
COSTELLO: Yes, and what can happen to them.
Thanks a lot, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, live from Chicago this morning.
FRYHOFER: All right.
COSTELLO: We'll see you again tomorrow.
FRYHOFER: Thank you, Carol.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 16, 2003 - 06:50 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: We've heard about steroid use in professional athletes. Now a new study reveals new concerns about steroid use by adolescents, teenagers.
Here to talk more at this live from the American Medical Association meeting in Chicago is Dr. Sandra Fryhofer.
Thanks for joining us, Sandra, from Chicago.
We appreciate it.
DR. SANDRA FRYHOFER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, thank you, Carol, and good morning.
And this is a new report from the American Medical Association that highlights some disturbing trends in the use of steroids by adolescents. What the study found, which, in a review of 50,000 adolescents that were surveyed each year, is that four percent of high school seniors have used steroids. And this is the highest level ever.
And for eighth and tenth graders, their past use in the last 30 days has also reached an overall high. It's higher than ever in the past decade, as well. And there's also evidence that fifth, sixth and seventh graders are also beginning to use steroids.
And let's take a closer look at some of the details in this report. What they found is that Caucasian students were more likely to use steroids than African-American students. Male high school students were more likely to use steroids than females, although the gap is narrowing. And, in fact, young women are showing the most rapid increase in steroid use and most of it is seen in young women who are participating in sports.
COSTELLO: Yes, I was going to say, with more women playing soccer and basketball and softball, you can see why many more young girls would be taking steroids. But I shiver to think of what that can do to a young person who's still growing.
FRYHOFER: Well, there are some concerning things that a lot of these kids don't realize. Think about growth changes. These steroids can cause the growth plates to close prematurely, meaning that kids can stop growing too soon. Also, steroids can cause mood changes, including a tendency to aggressive and violent behavior.
Now, as if adolescents going through puberty aren't already moody enough, they can also cause liver problems, elevation of the liver tests. There have even been some case reports of liver tumors, even liver cancer. They can also raise the blood pressure, raise the bad cholesterol, the LDL. There have been several cases of steroids being linked to heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.
And, steroids can also lower the sperm count. It can decrease the size of the testicles. In women, it can cause menstrual problems. It can also cause hair to grow in unwanted places, cause acne and lower the voice.
COSTELLO: Wow. Tell us more about this report, where it came from and how passionate doctors are about this.
FRYHOFER: Well, this report was presented over the weekend to the Reference Committees. It will be, it will go to the House of Delegates of the American Medical Association later this week for action. And at a minimum, this report raises awareness of the, of this trend we're seeing about the use of steroids in adolescents and it could be that the AMA decides to partner with other organizations to do something about it. And it could even involve possibly giving some of these steroid precursors that are in some of the food supplements made prescription drugs.
So a lot can be done. We'll just see what the AMA does later this week.
COSTELLO: And parents should help out, too, by keeping a closer eye on their kids, perhaps. It's tough, though.
FRYHOFER: And kids need to understand these dangers, as well.
COSTELLO: Yes, and what can happen to them.
Thanks a lot, Dr. Sandra Fryhofer, live from Chicago this morning.
FRYHOFER: All right.
COSTELLO: We'll see you again tomorrow.
FRYHOFER: Thank you, Carol.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
