National Coalition for the Advancement of Drug-Free Athletics (NCADFA) Reminds Parents to Discuss Steroid Abuse With Young Athletes
New Jeresy Non-Profit Organization Offers Talking Points on Steroids
New Milford, NJ (PRWEB) March 15, 2006
Major League Baseball along with other professional sports organizations, serve as a reminder that the lure of being bigger, faster and stronger is powerful, especially for young athletes who feel they won’t have a competitive edge without the use of steroids or other performance enhancers. Parents of teen athletes are reminded that the 2006 Major League Baseball season provides an ideal opportunity to discuss with children the negative implications of taking steroids or other performance enhancing drugs, says Dr. Victor N. Naumov, DC, Founder and President, of the National Coalition for the Advancement of Drug-Free Athletics, Inc.(NCADFA),a New Milford, New Jersey based 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
“Parents are a powerful influence on their children, especially when it comes to using and not using dangerous substances like anabolic steroids or other performance enhancing drugs,” says Dr. Richard G. Brassard, DC. “While professional athletes have a variety of trainers, nutritionists, and health care specialists available, many kids are on their own. Parents should encourage their young athletes to prepare mentally and physically for competition through proper nutrition, physical training and plenty of rest.”
According to a May 2004 report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, steroid use doubled among U. S. high-school students between 1991 and 2003. More than 6 percent, or as many as 1 million U. S. students, said they had taken steroids for at least one cycle (8-12 weeks of use). “Awareness is the first step towards prevention,” says Dr. Victor N. Naumov, DC.
To help combat this growing problem, the National Coalition for the Advancement of Drug-Free Athletics, Inc. (NCADFA) offers the following tips to help parents and coaches start a conversation with young athletes:
Be yourself and invite conversation. Ask your athlete children how their exercise is going. Ask if they are doing anything new to get an edge. Start questions about supplements—ask if they are using any; if so, which ones and for what purpose? Approach talking about steroids tactfully. Open up the conversation. Explain that it’s all about choices. Each athlete at some point needs to decide whether to achieve his or her greatest potential naturally—or to cheat by using steroids or similar substances. If the child exhibits symptoms – such as increased muscle gain in a short period of time, increased acne, mood swings and irritability, and increased joint injuries – have him or her tested for steroid use. If the test results are positive, seek professional help. Steroids affect the brain as much as they affect the body, and so kids often need the counseling of a sports psychologist.
Encourage your athlete children to talk to a doctor of chiropractic about improving their athletic performance naturally. Doctors of chiropractic are drug-free professionals who can coach your children on proper rest, recuperation, and training techniques to reduce the risk of injuries. They can also teach your children about proper nutrition and the importance of a health nervous system as it's related to athletic skill. Chiropractors are natural leaders in the field of peak human performance at all ages and levels. For more information visit the NCADFA website www. NCADFA. org
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