BAD BUILD: More brawn than brains

A high school pupil confesses that he deals in steroids . He gets the drugs from a friend, but Marcus*, 16, won't reveal more.

The young dealer's parents aren't aware that he sells steroids to his peers, but he claims that many parents are aware that their children use or deal in the drugs.

Some are even proud that their teens have shown entrepreneurial skills, ignoring the dangers associated with the muscle builders .

Other parents, however, think their children are selling supplements.

Marcus sells steroids over BlackBerry Messenger and Facebook.

He says he sells about 100 tablets a week, which cost him R400.

''I make a R100 profit a week on average. The downside is that it includes collection and delivery."

But, is a profit of R100 a week worth risking getting caught and endangering other people's lives? According to Marcus, many of the steroid dealers don't care about the consequences.

All they are concerned about is getting caught.

He says steroids are also used by female fat-burners.

Steroid abuse is a reality at schools and gyms and on the black market.

Although statistics have shown that many steroids are taken by teenagers who feel pressurised to perform in sports such as rugby, cycling and swimming, some aren't necessarily taking the drugs for performance enhancement.

Research has shown that teenagers start taking them to improve their physique from the age of about 15.

Shaun*, 17, says: ''I got pushed around a lot [by stronger boys], but when I started taking the steroids I got bigger and was able to stand up for myself.

''The only benefit that they delivered was a quick increase in my size."

He noticed the side effects, such as acne and aggression, but valued the advantage of a bigger build and the attention of girls more.

After a while, Shaun began to take the effects more seriously.

He saw what the drug was doing to his body and personality, and researched the risks: stunted growth, hair loss, liver toxicity and heart complications.

He has stopped taking them, but says: ''There are many different kinds of steroids, some not as 'bad' as others."

Many teenagers who use the drugs are aware that there are side- effects, but they feel that the benefits outweigh them.

*All names have been changed to protect the identity of the teenagers. - Media Monitoring Africa's Children's News Agency

WHAT EXPERTS SAY:

Dr Jon Patricios, sports physician

WE WILL only stop this scourge by combining ongoing education with random dope testing. I have seen permanent physical and psychological effects from just a single course of anabolic steroids. The culture of anabolic steroid use is no different to that of social drug use, driven by peer pressure and sustained by drug dealers.

Kirsten van Heerden, sports psychologist

MANY pupils are underpressure to be successful. At times the coaches and parents subtly support the use of steroids by failing to send a clear message to children that it will not be condoned and by emphasising a win-at-all-costs mentality.

SIDE EFFECTS OF STEROIDS:

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

Aggression

Known as "Roid Rage", it starts with irritability and stress, and can lead to violence because circuits in the brain that are responsible for impulse control are disturbed by steroids.

Balding

Caused by the body's confused over-production of DHT, which is a hair-inhibitor enzyme.

Enlarged prostate

Large amounts of synthetic testosterone cause the prostate to grow faster, which can cause prostate cancer.

Gynecomastia

Man boobs are caused when the extra testosterone is converted by the body into oestrogen and other female hormones.

Acne

Steroids enlarge sebaceous glands in the skin, causing them to overproduce sebum (oil). This leads to an outbreak of pimples.

High cholesterol

Steroids adversely affect the levels of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol in the blood. This can cause a heart attack or a stroke.

Liver malfunction

Steroid abuse has been associated with liver tumours.

"Maleness" in females

A deepening voice, accompanied by facial and body hair growth and coarse skin.

Shrunken testicles

Testicular atrophy occurs because steroids introduce an outside supply of testosterone.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

Cardiovascular problems

Increase in muscle mass puts a strain on the heart and body .

Ligament and joint injury

Muscle mass puts a strain on ligaments and joints.

Neurological problems

Depression and anxiety.

Stunted growth

Young steroid users can be permanently shorter than average height.

Weight problems

When use is not kept up, atrophied muscles turn to fat.