Dionne Passacantando was a cheerleader and a gymnast, but her reason for using anabolic steroids had nothing to do with athletics. She just wanted better abs. It's a story that is more common than many realize.

"A recent report by the Oregon Health and Science University using data from the Centers for Disease Control said 5.3 percent of teenage girls admitted using anabolic steroids, mostly for body-enhancing reasons or self-protection, not athletics. According to 2003 CDC data, seventh-grade girls were the fastest-growing group of steroid users, with more than 7 percent using them, the controversial report said."

Though steroids can make you stronger, they also can have devastating psychological effects. Five weeks after Dionne started using, she began feeling suicidal. Steroids also can cause liver tumors, increase blood pressure, and stunt growth. Read more at IHT.com.

Labels: abuse, steriods, supplements