Abstract

Although anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are perceived primarily as doping agents for athletes, these substances are also used by adolescents for aesthetical purposes. The aim of this study was to determine the knowledge about AAS, the extent, main reasons and consequences of its use among adolescents in Katowice, Poland. An anonymous questionnaire were answered by 1175 students, both sexes, attending three types of schools: grammar, secondary school preparing for university and vocational school. The results suggest that most adolescents, especially from grammar schools, know nothing or hardly anything about AAS and health consequences of using them. Moreover, 9.38 % males and 2.08 % females were abusing AAS or had abused them at some time of their life. Students from vocational schools had a higher usage rate of AAS than pupils from the other two types of schools. For most of the users the main reasons for using AAS are connected with the will to change their bodies so as to improve appearance by gaining muscle mass, reduce body fat and/or improve muscle cut. Over a half of the users had suffered from some side effects of AAS: acne, hair-loss, sexual disturbances, irritability, voice deepening, depression etc. The results of this study suggest that there is an urgent need to include AAS issues into drug education programs. Verf.-Referat