Tanner S M, Miller D W, Alongi C
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80222.
Clin J Sport Med. 1995;5(2):108-15. doi: 10.1097/00042752-199504000-00007.
Athletes and nonathletes use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) to improve their strength and enhance their appearance. Few studies have been undertaken in the 1990s to assess the use of AAS in adolescents, following changes in legislation. This study was conducted to determine the prevalence of AAS use by high school students in Denver, Colorado, an area with high sports participation. A confidential questionnaire was completed by 6,930 students (response rate 96.6%) at 10 Denver high schools. The prevalence of AAS use was 2.7% (4.0% for boys and 1.3% for girls). Prevalence was slightly higher in sport participants than nonparticipants. The mean age of starting AAS was 14 years (range 8-17 years). This study is the first documented detailed assessment of high school students' knowledge of the risks of AAS. It shows knowledge deficits regarding potential side effects. Users of AAS were less likely than nonusers to acknowledge the risks of AAS. Only 18% of students claim to have been informed about AAS by physicians. The results suggest that health care providers should provide more information to adolescents about AAS. If educational efforts are found effective, teaching efforts regarding AAS should start in junior high school or sooner and continue through high school.
运动员和非运动员都使用合成代谢雄激素类固醇（AAS）来增强力量和改善外形。20世纪90年代，随着立法的变化，很少有研究对青少年使用AAS的情况进行评估。本研究旨在确定科罗拉多州丹佛市高中生使用AAS的流行情况，该地区体育参与度较高。丹佛市10所高中的6930名学生完成了一份保密问卷（回复率96.6%）。AAS的使用率为2.7%（男生为4.0%，女生为1.3%）。体育参与者的使用率略高于非参与者。开始使用AAS的平均年龄为14岁（范围为8至17岁）。本研究是首次对高中生关于AAS风险知识的详细记录评估。结果显示他们对潜在副作用的知识存在欠缺。AAS使用者比非使用者更不可能认识到AAS的风险。只有18%的学生声称从医生那里了解过AAS。结果表明，医疗保健提供者应向青少年提供更多关于AAS的信息。如果教育措施被证明有效，关于AAS的教育应在初中或更早开始，并持续到高中。
