preview

Argumentative Essay On Performance Enhancing Drugs

Decent Essays

Performance-enhancing substances have been a hot topic in professional sports for many years. Although most people have heard about them, they do not realize that they can be a major problem for adolescents. Steve Pasieb, the President and CEO of Partnership for Drug-Free Kids stated, “‘Young people are seeking out and using performance-enhancing substances like synthetic hGH- and supplements purporting to contain hGH- hoping to improve athletic performance or body appearance without really knowing what substances they are putting into their bodies (Feliz).”’ Adolescents using performance-enhancing drugs are likely to be harmed, due to the dangers that come with taking them. Taking PED’s can be a huge problem for teens. These drugs can affect …show more content…

While this might not seem like that many, a teen is more likely to use something if it is easier to get. In some places performance-enhancing drugs can be bought online; on the contrary, buying them online is usually only legal for adults. Adolescents get the drugs similar to other illegal drugs, like cocaine and marijuana. They get steroids from the black market and people called ‘gym dealers’ (Susan). Getting enhancing substances in these ways are not always safe and probably shouldn’t be trusted. Black market and gym dealer also aren’t legal since they are not prescribed. Stated in the article “Performance-enhancing drugs and teen athletes,” “Most steroid precursors are illegal without a prescription.” Use of steroids without a doctor prescription can be extremely dangerous for adolescents using them. For this reason, the government is very strict on the use of PED’s. Josie Feliz, author of “National Study: Teens Report Higher use of Performance Enhancing Substances,” mentioned that medical uses of performance enhancing drugs are actually allowed, but non-prescribed use is illegal. This is because, as she also confirmed, illegally obtained steroid do not ensure safety or effects. In addition, the drugs gotten on the street have not been tested for stores. Taking these banned substances can lead to disaster, as a result of not …show more content…

Many of the physical effects are terrible and teens shouldn’t have to deal with them. Even though the effects of steroids are hazardous, athletes still use them to try and gain an edge. PED’s are thought by many to increase strength and aggressiveness, decrease fatigue, attain greater intensity, and make athletes have more duration (Anderson). On one hand these are true for some athletes. But on the other hand physical effects trump the potential benefits from the different drugs. Athletes still want to win no matter what and this is acknowledged by Susan Jay, “Reasons for use volunteered by respondents in a space provided included improvements in sexual performance, body definition, mass, penile size, and ligament strength.” These, along with others, are why people use steroids. PED use causes negative effects. A few physical changes in males are changes in body, muscle growth, rapid weight gain, and development of upper body. These are not always easy to point out. Some more are enlarged breasts, male-pattern baldness, shrinking of testicles, and excessive body hair growth (“Performance-enhancing drugs and teen athletes”). These are a problem for adolescent athletes. The other effects can be more frightening. Mentioned in “Performance-enhancing drugs and teen athletes,” blood clotting, high blood pressure and cholesterol, liver problems, and reduced sperm productions are a

Get Access