Poppin' Pills: The popularity (and dangers) of performance-enhancement supplements

Performance-enhancement supplements have not only become extremely popular within professional athletes, but college athletes as well.

There is continued pressure placed upon athletes everyday to perform the best of the best.

Nowadays, athletes think the only way to achieve that goal is to turn to performance-enhancement supplements and/or steroids.

It might get you a medal in your short-term collegiate career, but the long-term effects of performance-enhancement drugs and steroids are too risky and not worth it.

In the beginning of each semester, all Florida Atlantic athletes must attend NCAA meetings, and then they are sent additional information through e-mail to clarify acceptable and banned supplements--and the consequences if tested positive.

• Do not assume that a product is allowed just because it is purchased from a retail store or over the Internet. It still might be a NCAA banned substance.
• Athletes must check with an appropriate athletics administrator before taking any supplement. If the athlete doesn't receive approval and tests positive, then s/he bears full responsibility .
• The NCAA also recognizes that most nutritional supplements are ineffective, costly and unnecessary.

To gain more information about nutritional/dietry supplements, you can check out the Resource Exchage Center. The password is ncaa1, ncaa2 or ncaa3.