Question: I'm a 13 year-old boy and I have just started to lift weights, but I really want to get steroids. I would only use a little bit at a time until I was happy with myself. Are steroids addictive and how much do they cost?

Answer: Although steroids are not physically addictive, they are especially dangerous at your age, and we advise against use. First of all, at age 13 you may not have finished growing, and taking steroids can disrupt your pubertal development.

Second, anabolic steroids (not corticosteroids like those used to treat asthma) can adversely affect every organ system in your body while actually increasing your risk of injury. These drugs increase aggressive behavior, worsen acne, and cause hair loss, heart problems, inflammation of the liver, gynecomastia (growth of breast tissue) and shrinking testicles. Also, when taken by injection, anabolic steroids have been associated with transmission of hepatitis B and C as well as HIV. Finally, the desired effects of "bulking up" don't last without continued steroid use.

You will be most "happy with yourself" if you achieve your fitness goals naturally, with a healthy diet and a supervised exercise program, including weight training and aerobic activity to strengthen your heart and lungs.

To have TeenGrowth's board of physicians answer your health question, visit the Web site (www.teengrowth.com) or e-mail feedbackteengrowth.com. TeenGrowth is a noncommercial Internet site that focuses exclusively on the educational health issues of adolescents.