SANDY — Bulk up now with anabolic steroids — pay a stiff price later.

That was the message educators, federal officials and the Utah attorney general had for students at Alta High School Monday.

"To use steroids or performance-enhancing drugs is cheating, straight up," said Attorney General Mark Shurtleff. He said there is no difference between doing steroids and other illegal drugs. They all can land you in prison.

But aside from the legal hot water users can find themselves in, steroids often have serious and long-lasting effects that aren't always talked about.

Evan Simon, associate director of conditioning in the University of Utah's athletic department, said he has heard the drums beat louder and louder on both sides of the issue — there is the large muscular athlete with the message "look like me and this is what I do" versus those on the other side trying to get the message out to avoid the "epidemic plague" of steroids.

Officials said that no longer is steroid use limited to body building and professional athletic arenas. Studies have shown that the most recent significant increase of illegal steroid use is among teenage girls pursuing the "ideal" body image.

The problem is alive and well among models, cheerleaders, high school athletes and even music artists. Statistically one in 20 high school students have tried or are using steroids.

Simon admitted to the group of around 200 students that, yes, steroids make you strong, they increase lean muscle and yes, for a time your performance will be improved.

But they also cause acne, unwanted body hair in both males and females as well as drastic mood swings, including "'roid rage."

Anabolic steroids also carry with them an increased risk of liver cancer, infertility, testicular atrophy, and ligament and bone damage.

"Steroids are an illegal drug and they can cause you death, pain and emotional damage — it all comes down to choosing right from wrong and being strong enough to encourage those around you to do the right thing," said Les Hamilton, Alta High's head football coach.

The assembly was presented by the U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency and the Taylor Hooton Foundation, a private organization named for a high school athlete whose death was directly related to the use of anabolic steroids.

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