SOME STEROIDS CAN CREATE A BALL OF CONFUSION

Q. In one of your columns you said that Mark McGwire used creatine to
help him hit better. That's not true. He used androstenedione.

A. You are absolutely correct that we were absolutely wrong. McGwire
did use androstenedione, not creatine. And this gives us a wonderful
opportunity to talk about this legal steroid hormone that allegedly
helps build muscle by increasing the amount of testosterone -- a male
hormone -- you make. Not good stuff, say lots of docs. It's related to
another legal, over-the-counter steroid hormone called
dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is linked to lots of unpleasant
side effects, including prostate cancer.

Most doctors are afraid that androstenedione, a little-studied
hormone, will have the same side effects as illegal anabolic steroids
- -- everything from violent aggression ('roid rage) to cancer. But some
wonder if it does anything at all. There's some suspicion that
androstenedione is a very weak steroid that's broken down to almost
nothing and raises testosterone levels only temporarily -- meaning not
enough to give you that competitive edge or those tree-trunk forearms.
(Which means Mark did it all by himself.)

If you're thinking of taking it, ask yourself: Is it worth the risk to
try a potentially dangerous substance that may not even work?

(Source: Scientific American; Hippocrates)

Q. I've been depressed and I really want to get better, but I don't
want to take drugs. Can seeing a psychologist be enough to do the job?

A. Yes. In fact, for teens with depression, many doctors believe
psychotherapy should be the first treatment tried, even if your
depression is considered major. It's a therapy that's been developing
for 100 years and it works. It's true that anti-depressant medications
are widely used now for teen-agers, and they work, too. But doctors
say it's not unusual for teens to forget to take their medicine or
simply decide they don't want their brain messed with. Naturally, if
you don't take your medication, it can't relieve your depression.
Meanwhile, psychotherapy, used in individual, family or group
settings, has been shown to be very effective in treating depressed
teens.

(Source: Pediatric News, August 1998)

BOD BONUS: Heroin is one of the most addictive narcotics, but
apparently that hasn't kept kids away from it. Ten years ago, the
average age of people using the drug was 27. By 1995, the average age
was down to 19. Use of heroin by American high school seniors doubled
between 1990 and 1996. Teens most likely to use heroin are those whose
grades are falling and who also smoke cigarettes.

(Source: American Academy of Pediatrics, Dec. 7, 1998).

Eileen Nechas and Denise Foley are health columnists and authors of
four health books. You can e-mail your health questions to them at

bodsquadQ@aol.com or write Bodsquad, P.O. Box 132, Oreland, PA
19075.