The use of anabolic steroids has increased among youth, and has continued to become a larger problem in high schools.
With that in mind, state, medical and education officials introduced Powered By ME!, a steroid awareness campaign Monday at an assembly at Towson High School.
“Powered By ME! will encourage young people to make the right decisions to stay safe and healthy,” St. Joseph Medical Center President John Tolmie said.
“It?s about reinforcing the belief that cheating should never be,” Rep. Elijah Cummings said. He also said he would like to see this campaign take off nationwide.
According to a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study, close to 1 million high school students have tried steroids. The study also showed 3.5 percent of anabolic steroid users started in junior high school.
Steroids can cause pimples, hair loss, liver cancer and heart problems, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. They can make men grow breasts and women grow beards, as well as spur violent, angry rampages.
Speakers also addressed the use of herbal dietary substances, such as energy drinks and pills.
“High school students who use dietary substances are 15 percent more likely to use steroids,” Sheppard Pratt Director of Substance Abuse Education Mike Gimbel said.
Monday?s introductory program began with a demonstrative performance by Fool Proof, an improvisational theater group of five high school students highlighting the peer pressure that often leads to the abuse of performance-enhancing drugs.
A Web site dedicated to the campaign ? poweredbymemd.com ? is expected to be up and running by the end of the week.
