Premium Essay

Anabolic Steroid Use

Submitted By
Words 1340
Pages 6
Anabolic steroids are man-made compounds, related to testosterone, used to promote muscle growth and performance. They have a notorious history and are currently prevalent in weightlifting and sporting communities. The smallest subset within that community are adolescents. Anabolic steroid usage as an adolescent is the most harmful time a person can use steroids because they are illegal and dangerous without a doctor’s prescription and monitoring, prematurely stunt physical growth, and the side effects can be temporary, permanent or, in rare cases, deadly.
The origin of anabolic steroids can be traced back to the early 1930’s when scientist were able to synthesize testosterone in order treat men unable to develop and grow normally or function …show more content…
This act introduced consequences at a federal level to deter the growing issue of anabolic steroid usage. Common brand name examples of this steroid are Androsterone, Oxandrin, Dianabol, Winstrol, Deca-durabolin, and Equipoise. If a person is found in possession of steroids without a proper prescription they would be fined a minimum of $1000 and could expect to spend at least one year in prison. The CSA also addressed trafficking with a maximum five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if this is the individual’s first felony drug offense. This law has had little effect on actual usage and sales of steroids. The black market for illegal steroids is an estimated $400 million per year (Maryland, 2013). Obtaining steroids is a relatively easy process for anyone with access to the internet. A number of online vendors sell anabolic steroids without a prescription (Ali Mohamadi, 2013). Anabolic steroids can also be obtained through illegal seizure from countries outside of the United States, thefts from legitimate companies, or produced in unauthorized laboratories. Some over the counter dietary supplements may contain this form of steroids without proper …show more content…
One important detail that teenagers fail to realize is that taking steroids at this phase in their development can and will have long term ramifications. This type of androgenic steroid can cause the early closure of physes in children and adolescents preventing them from achieving their full height due to an interruption of natural development (Fitness, 1997). Examples of short term effects anyone abusing this type of steroid may have are hair loss, increased aggression, depression, or suicidal tendencies, high blood pressure, alterations in cholesterol or blood lipids and increased rate of muscle strains. Boys may experience gynecomastia, shrinking of testicles, and azoospermia. While young women may begin having menstrual irregularities, excessive facial or body hair growth, infertility, clitoromegaly, and a deeper voice that may remain even when the steroids are no longer taken (Anabolic, n.d.). Long term effects that can manifest years after abuse are liver, heart, and kidney diseases depending on what type of anabolic steroid was abused and how the body metabolizes it. Other factors that are not always considered is that the steroids affect a part of the brain called the limbic system that controls mood. “Long-term steroid abuse can lead to aggressive behavior and extreme mood swings. This is

Similar Documents

Premium Essay

Why Do People Use Anabolic Steroids

...the word anabolic steroid may sound a little bit strange.  Our bodies produce these things through our endocrine system. But with the advent of technology and thorough scientific studies, these chemicals can now be artificially created and manufactured in a drug form.Causes of Substance Abuse As we have mentioned above, these substances are mostly used for improvement of athletic performances. The danger about using these drugs is that people try to abuse it. According certain surveys, steroid abuse is present 6% of every athlete. Experts believe that the abuse is more rampant than the values brought about by these figures. That’s the reason why rigorous tests are being done to professional and Olympic athletes.  Still, this isn’t an excuse because of the appearance of what we call designer drugs which are greatly available in the market for use. Every athlete wants to be one step ahead of their competition so they are always prone to get these substances to maximize and improve their skills. Another reason why people are prone to anabolic steroids is to increase muscle size and fat reduction. These are commonly present to those people who are so much anxious of their image that they develop a...

Words: 520 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Why Do People Use Anabolic Steroids?

...Anabolic steroids are any drugs related to a male hormone called testosterone, a hormone that mostly enhances muscle growth. Back in history, a group of scientists was successfully capable of creating a synthetic form of testosterone hormone in order to help male patients who had problems in growing and could not produce enough levels of testosterone. Later during World War II, weak soldiers were given doses of this synthetic hormone to improve their strength and develop their performance and it worked! After the war, An American doctor named Dr.Zeigler invented the term “ Anabolic Steroids” for these artificial hormones. Furthermore, anabolic steroids were legal and popular among athletes and high school teenagers to promote their performance. Finally in 1975, the International Olympic Committee have prevented using these steroids and consider it cheating. However, black markets are still providing these steroids and have a lot of people who are willing to spend a lot of money to buy them (1). Anabolic steroids are used illegally among bodybuilders to maximize their muscle growth and recovery but these steroids can cause hazardous consequences may lead to death. Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones related by a way or another to the male...

Words: 592 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Anabolic Steroids In Sports

...Anabolic Steroids in Sport Glory Gomez American Military University Steroids Anabolic steroids have plagued the world of sports for decades, and even while there have been numerous technological and research advances towards finding efficient and innovative ways to interrupt anabolic steroid abusers’ efforts, the number of cases are still on the rise. Just as enforcers are trying to find more efficient ways to prevent steroid abuse in the world of sports, athletes are finding different ways to camouflage the substance as well as new methods to creep by drug testing. In the end, some athletes are desperate to find ways to have an upper hand against the competition, regardless of the possible risks and/or consequence that...

Words: 1590 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Steroids

...way to get a quick fix that to take a pill or shoot up some steroids? Got an injury? Steroids will fix it. Need to bulk up before the big game? Guess what? Steroids will be there for you. The controversy involving these supplements has been that talk of physicians, athletic coaches, body builders, and parents. Effects resulting from the abuse of steroids can be brutal and not much is being done to stop it. Androgenic anabolic steroids were first created in the late 1930’s by the Germans, and were tested on dogs and later on soldiers. The Germans used them to keep prisoners alive who were dying due to malnutrition and to make their soldiers more aggressive during battle. After the war, doctors in Europe and the U.S. used steroids to treat anemia, malnutrition, and to help patients recover faster from surgery. Two decades later, Dr. Zeigler found that testosterone was the key ingredient in these steroids and soon they were out on the market and readily available. In the well-documented case of the 1976 Olympics, the East German women’s swim team set records and swept the competition. It was later discovered that the team’s doctor and the head of the East German sports federation had given them anabolic steroids which lead to their many unfair victories. Steroids are commonly used in medical practice, curing such things as allergic reaction and arthritis, but also more serous illnesses like some types of cancer. Steroids are also obvious quick fixes for hormone deficiencies or abnormal...

Words: 1479 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

Drugs and Sports

...often pursue dreams of winning a medal for their country or securing a spot on a professional team. In such an environment, the use of performance-enhancing drugs has become increasingly common. But using performance-enhancing drugs — aka, doping — isn't without risks. Take the time to learn about the potential benefits, the health risks and the many unknowns regarding so-called performance-enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids, androstenedione, human growth hormone, erythropoietin, diuretics, creatine and stimulants. You may decide that the benefits aren't worth the risks. What is a drug? | A drug is a chemical substance that, when absorbed into the body, can alter normal bodily function.   Many drugs have been banned in sport if they are deemed to provide an unfair advantage, pose a health risk, or are seen to violate the ‘spirit of sport’.  The use of banned drugs by athletes is referred to as ‘doping’.  The International Olympic Committee (IOC), and more recently, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) have been leading the way in the battle against drugs in sport. | Why do some athletes use drugs? | Most athletes take drugs to enhance their physical performance in an attempt to prevent them falling behind other competitors, even if it does mean damaging their health and risking their sports careers.  Other athletes may use drugs to help them wind down and relax, to cope with the pressures and stress associated with a constant battle to win all the time...

Words: 2991 - Pages: 12

Premium Essay

Anabolic Steroids Research Paper

...Anabolic Steroids What are anabolic steroids? Anabolic steroids are a synthetic version of testosterone, which helps with muscle growth and physical performance. There have been many professional athletes, movie stars, and normal people that have used steroids and continue to use them. After all the research that has proven the serious side effects from steroid use people still use them. Who is affected by steroids? Obviously, the individual using them, the family and friends, and others that use steroids to feel good about themselves. Why would anybody want to inject their body with a drug that has all these negative side effects? The great Arnold Schwarzenegger has admitted he took steroids to maintain muscle size before his competitions. He also stated he has no regrets because he doesn’t have any side effects. I can understand why he doesn’t regret it, he is a seven time Mr. Olympia, he has made millions, became governor of California, and he has achieved much more. Arnold can defend his belief about steroids, but the scientific research is there, therefore steroids have negative effects....

Words: 642 - Pages: 3

Premium Essay

Why Steroids Should Be Legalized?

...29 March 2013 Word Count: 1,766 Steroids should be legalized Abstract The use of steroids and illegal performance-enhancing drugs appears to be growing in professional athletics. More and more high profile athletes are being busted for their use and consequently ostracized by fans and those in the athletic community. Beyond that, there are thousands of other professional and amateur athletes who have resorted to these drugs as well. As someone who has found a passion for all things fitness, and aspires to open up my own gym and train athletes someday, this issue is of high importance to me. Although many have accepted steroids as illegal and a type of cheating, these drugs should be legalized in sports. While it is widely accepted that performance-enhancing drugs pose health risks, I think it is the athletes’ own choice whether or not these risks are worth the benefit. In this research, I will argue why it makes sense to lift the current ban on steroids in professional sports. The effects of steroids are well known. They will help increase athletic performance and they also come with negative side effects. In a study done by clinical biochemists, it was found that use of anabolic steroids combined with exercise was highly effective. This research took 43 volunteers and divided them into four groups. One group of people took a placebo pill and exercised, one group took a placebo with no exercise, and two groups took an anabolic steroid with one of them exercising. The study...

Words: 1973 - Pages: 8

Free Essay

Steroids

...There has been no bigger or constant story in the world of baseball than the consistent illegal use of performance enhancing drugs. Performance-enhancing drugs are any substance taken to perform better athletically. This term is referenced often and typically refers to anabolic steroid use in sports by professional and amateur athletes. Other substances may also be taken to improve performance, including human growth hormone (HGH). The on going epidemic has brought the attention of some the biggest names in sports into question. Roger Clemens, Sean Merriman and Lance Armstrong just to name a few of what could possible be hundreds according to the Mitchell report. (Thesteroidera.com) The Mitchell report was an investigation to the commissioner of baseball of an independent investigation into the illegal use of steroids and other performance enhancing substances by players in major league baseball, as well as other major sports. The report helped put in the spotlight the ongoing problem mainly found in athletics today. The drugs allowed players to excel far beyond their god given talent and allowed them to produce power numbers never seen before. Not only does “Doping” hurt the integrity of the sport and the athlete, but also causes serious health risks, both mental and physical. I don’t believe there was anyone more intrigued by the epic home-run race of 1998 between Sammy Sosa and Mark Mcguire. The two heroes of the time seemed to sea-saw back and forth until ultimately Mcguire...

Words: 809 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Bodybuilding & Drugs

...The use of Performance Enhancing Drugs or PED’s in sports today has become an ongoing battle. From the media to athletes, to the doctor who prescribe the drugs to now involving the Federal Government, the issue of whether or not it is cheating has played a major roll in today’s sports. Baseball players, Football players, Swimmers, Track and Field runners, Olympians, Professional Weight Lifters, Cyclists, and the list goes on and on have all been in some way or another connected to steroids. Once thought to be a problem strictly associated with body builders, fitness "buffs," and professional athletes, the abuse of steroids is prevalent in today’s society. Athletes of all ages are starting to turn toward the use of these drugs in hopes to improve their performance and give athletes that edge to win as well as improving their appearance. This is not only wrong but it is cheating, and these drugs can cause serious health problems in athletes later on down the line. Performance Enhancing drugs have been around for hundreds of years. Anabolic-androgenic steroids or AAS were 1st discovered in the early 1930s as a therapeutic drug to treat growth hormone replacement in deficient children, menopausal symptoms, impotence, and the retardation of the effects of aging by stimulating the rate of synthesis of protein molecules (The use of performance enhancing drugs in sports p.1) and are now used widely in medicine to stimulate bone growth, pueberty, appetite, and muscle growth...

Words: 289 - Pages: 2

Premium Essay

Rst 255 Term Paper

...The documentary took an objective stance on the use of anabolic steroids where the National Institute on Drug Abuse defines anabolic-androgenic steroids as, “a synthetic variant of the male sex hormone testosterone and that “anabolic” refers to muscle-building and “androgenic” refers to increased male sexual characteristics.” The use of anabolic steroids for sports/recreation is illegal and is considered by the United States as a controlled substance, however the use of anabolic steroids for medical use is legal. The ethical question I am asking is, “how can the United States “claim” that the use of anabolic steroids for medical reasons be ethical and can “help” someone when they “claim” that the use of anabolic steroids for sports/recreation to be unethical and will “hurt” someone?” In order to take an objective stance I will use three of the five ethical lenses provided in class. The five ethical lenses that were provided in class are: the Utilitarian Approach, the Rights Approach, the Fairness or Justice Approach, the Common Good Approach, and the Virtue Approach. I will first use the ethical lens for the Rights Approach. After reading A Framework for Thinking Ethically the reading defined the Rights Approach as, “One has the right to choose freely what one does with their life.” From this definition I believe it is ethically fine for someone to have the “right” use anabolic steroids for both medical use and sports/recreation use because every individual...

Words: 1505 - Pages: 7

Premium Essay

Steroids In Professional Sports

...In the 1930’s steroids were first developed, but athletes first figured out that they gained a lot of muscle in the 1950’s. Not until March 1, 1991 steroids were illegal to athletes. Even though many professional sports players and bodybuilders are abusing steroids and you may never know it. Pete Rose for example used the drug Amphetamine, also called “greenies”, just to lose some weight. Other great players used cocaine to stay alert during games so that the players can react faster to catch a baseball coming at them quickly (Porterfield). Steroids do grow muscle and can be legal, but some steroids are bad and are illegal, for just the normal human or any professional sports athlete. The great players from the MLB (Major League Baseball), Tim Raines, Dave Parker, and Keith Hernandez were the players that used cocaine to stay alert for the long drug out games to react to a fast coming line drive, pop fly, or grounder (Steroids). Mark McGwire admitted to using steroids after he retired in 2001, and after breaking the single season HR record with seventy home runs. He used...

Words: 811 - Pages: 4

Premium Essay

Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids Is Bad

...no. Using Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids is in fact cheating. It is the use of drugs to gain an unfair advantage in a sporting event or competition. It is no different than cheating on a test or taking a short cut in a race. If being unfair is not enough of a reason not to use Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids, there are also numerous irreversible health hazards. Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids are illegal for several reasons including numerous health hazards and general unfairness in competition and need to continue to remain illegal. To better understand why steroids must continue to be illegal one must first know what they are. Anabolic Androgenic Steroids are a type of drugs commonly used by athletes and other...

Words: 1046 - Pages: 5

Premium Essay

Steriods in Sports

...Comp I 4/26 /13 Steroids in Sports Should athletes be allowed to use performance-enhancing drugs in order to improve their performance? Steroid usage in sports has long been a real big issue for many athletes both professional and amateur. Steroids are not allowed in any sport however; some athletes do take the chance by using performance-enhancing drugs in order to increase the chances of a successful outcome in a competition. Many athletes have been banned from participating in certain sports because they were convicted of taking steroids. In light of this, one can only wonder how many top athletes have won events due to the use of steroids. There are many sides to the debate of whether or not athletes should be able to use steroids. Despite health reasons there are quite a few people who do believe that athletes should be allowed to use performance- enhancers. On the other hand, there are those who believe that steroids should not be used. First, in the current sports arena , professional athletes are known to have well paid salaries and because steroids have the potential to improve performances and to heal injuries, it is not surprising that research activities have been enhanced to develop better and acceptable alternatives for testosterone. The Germans had started taking steroids during the 1960s in order ...

Words: 1466 - Pages: 6

Premium Essay

The Pros And Cons Of Steroids

...Are steroids the way to go? What comes to mind, when you vision an extremely broad man with bulging muscles. Steroids are an easier way to get stronger, it helps build muscles promptly. This makes getting muscles quicker and not having to put in much effort. Steroid use can cause huge muscles, but could have awful health effects in the long. Some effects are heart failure and liver cancer. Finally, how steroids were used then and how they are used now. There are positives and negatives to using steroids. People that use steroids can get muscles with no trouble and don’t have to work as hard as someone that didn’t take them. On the downside, steroids can cause heart failure and hair loss. “Steroids promote cell growth and division, and thus can be used in training to help grow muscles quicker and easier than might be expected.”...

Words: 889 - Pages: 4

Free Essay

Steroids

...Anabolic Steroids: A Perceived Means to Perfection At what point does the quest for perfection become an obsession? In the world of athleticism, the point of mania is usually when a person turns to performance enhancement by means of ergogenic aids. An ergogenic aid is anything that enhances a person’s athletic abilities. Examples of ergogenic aids are vitamins, foods, caffeine, and the most controversial anabolic steroids. Anabolic Steroids have sparked worldwide interest in the media because of the potential dangers associated with usage and moreover the fact that steroids are illegal in the professional sports arena. Anabolic steroids are classified as ergogenic aids, because they are chemically made substances that promote increased stamina when training, resulting in greater amounts of fat free mass and overall strength. The use of anabolic steroids has evolved into further drug experimentation and dependence, destroying the most critical aspect and fundamental of training “quality vs. quantity,” thus creating a “by any means necessary” athletic society. What Are the Affects of Steroid Use on Athletic Performance? Over the last five years several allegations and indictments have been made against athletes for their use of performance enhancing drugs. According to Steven M. Cohen, “Athletes use these drugs to enhance athletic performance, but not in the manner one might assume. Anabolic steroids won't make an athlete “better” at his or her sport. Steroids aren't...

Words: 1308 - Pages: 6