Children abuse steroids 'to look good'

There are fears that steroid abuse could be a problem in many schools

Schoolchildren as young as 14 are using anabolic steroids to enhance their appearance, the head teacher of a Rhondda Cynon Taff school has revealed.

The admission by Steve Bowden, head at Porth County School, backs up new research from the University of Glamorgan.

Figures show there has been an increase in the use of the steroid abuse beyond the world of athletics and bodybuilding in south Wales.

Mr Bowden said staff had noticed "clear and marked physical changes in the appearance of some of the young boys which cannot be attributed purely and simply to hard physical exercise".

It is also this whole issue of self-image and being proud of their physical appearance Steve Bowden, head teacher

"We are talking of students who are 14, 15, 16-year-olds," he said.

"Probably these young boys are going to local gymnasiums where they see young adult males who are working out who may well be using drugs to enhance their body building process.

"It is also this whole issue of self-image and being proud of their physical appearance."

Mr Bowden said he did not think steroid abuse was a widespread problem, but there could be "one or two clear cases" in every school.

Professor Bruce Davies, from the school of applied sciences at the University of Glamorgan, said his team had been shocked by the ages of some children involved.

"We were surprised to find that children that young were involved in taking these drugs," he said.

Steroids can help enhance muscle definition

"Some of these children lock into boys who are 18 or 19 years of age and, as a result, are influenced by their peer group.

"If they are unfortunate enough to be associated with kids taking anabolic steroids, they then start taking them themselves."

Researchers from the University of Glamorgan discovered that 58% of males questioned at three gyms in south Wales admitted to having taken anabolic steroids.

Professor Davies said that many of the youngsters did not even seem to have a reason for taking steroids.

"What we found is disturbing in this group of adolescents is they really only take it to gain strength and get this image they seem to think is associated with being popular in the society in which they live," he said.

"They are simply body building for body building's sake."

Professor Davies said the way to tackle the problem was to target adolescents and highlighted a successful programme in America which seeks to emphasise the dangers to younger children.

He added that it was disturbing that they had found 20 per cent of drug abusers were sharing needles, despite a number of government warnings in recent years.