Performance Enhancing Drug Abuse

Athletes use performance enhancing drugs to boost their game. The professionals who use these drugs are ruining the integrity of the game. Many people don’t understand why professional athletes would go to such extreme measures to be better when they have already proven themselves. Athletes are just taking away from their natural ability by using these dangerous drugs. The risk of using performance enhancing drugs is a lot greater than the reward, because an athlete’s reputation could be tarnished and their career ruined. Money is one of the major reasons why players use them; if they perform at levels higher than what their natural abilities could do they will be offered a large sum of money.

From the beginning of history, professional and amateur athletes have tempted to use legal or illegal drugs to enhance their performance (1). Athletes have used pharmacological agents, called Performance-enhancing drugs(PEDs), to enhance performance or to become leaner or more muscular (2). In sports, administration of drugs that are forbidden by international world anti-doping agency (WADA) is referred as doping (3). Anabolic androgenic agents (AASs) are the most popular agents that are abused by the athletes, especially bodybuilding athletes. Besides these agents, other classes of drugs such as stimulants and peptide hormones (growth hormone and insulin) are new PEDs that are abused by a lot of athletes in the different sports (1). Other than these compounds, athletes often use dietary supplements like creatine, protein, and vitamins to enhance strength and increase body mass (4-6).

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

Anabolic steroid abuse has become a huge concern among high school athletes. There has been a dramatic increase in the number of athletes using performance enhancing drugs in high school, almost double the number since the 1980's. Student athletes feel that steroids give them a competitive edge that they think they need to boost themselves past competition. Athletes, whether they are young or old, professional or amateur, are always looking to gain an advantage over their opponents to come away with the biggest win, our society views winning as something more important than the game itself. Success in competition brings status, popularity and fame, not to mention college scholarships. Today's athletes are looking for an advantage over the competition that will make them winners. Unfortunately, today student athletes are getting caught up in this competition frenzy and because of this, teenage use of performance enhancing drugs is growing to be very popular. At all levels of play, from peewee wrestling to professional football. Successful athletes rely on skill, practice, and hard work to increase their speed, power, and ability. Today, high school and even middle school students are using steroids illegally. The United Institute of Health reported that 2.9% of twelve graders in high school have used anabolic steroids. These drugs may also have been called: roids, juice, gym candy, pumpers, stackers, balls or bulls, arnies, or anabolics. High School students of our

Performance enhancing drugs, or steroids, are defined as substances used to improve physical performance. There are many types of steroidal performance enhancers. The first of these performance enhancing drugs are anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids are also known as androgen steroids, and they are used to increase the muscle mass and strength of a person. A natural anabolic steroid is testosterone, which your body naturally produces. Some athletes take straight testosterone which is another way to boost your athletic performance. This has the same effect as anabolic steroids, but it is natural and can be found within the body. Anabolic steroids are so effective and appealing to athletes, because they allow athletes to recover faster from a

Nonmedical anabolic steroids are banned by most major sports organizations, yet some athletes proceed to use them to enhance their sports game. It may help them now, but in the long run it it causes serious physical and psychological problems. Both teens and adults use steroids. It’s important for

Athletes partaking in performance enhancing drugs is another sport specific risk behaviour to achieve victory. Taking performance enhancing drugs gives an extra edge and is a short cut to good performance. It allows one to perform under any circumstances. In fact, stimulants are the most common types of drugs that are misused. Stimulants reduce tiredness and pain. Further, it increases endurance and explosive power due to the reduction of pain. The earliest reasons for the use of stimulants is because of the restricting barriers to pain. Nevertheless, this causes more injuries as they are pushing their bodies past what they are physically capable of. However, they are not aware of this because at the time the athlete is no responsive to pain.

Doping is “the illegal use of a drug (such as a steroid) to improve an athlete's performance” (Merriam-Webster). There are many different types of this enhancing drug. Some are more intense than others. Androstenedione and creatine are two substances that have little harm but are still considered drugs with an unfair advantage. Androstenedione is used so athletes can get a harder workout in and recover faster. Creatine is used to

Did you know that around twenty two percent of suicide cases are related to drug use (“Effects…”)? Or that eighteen percent of family homicides are related to drug use (“Effects…”)? Steroids have been used in sports since the early olympics when athletes ate plants with natural growth hormones and that produce more testosterone (“Effects…”). Steroid use since then has changed. Drugs are now faster, more productive, and easier to obtain. This is good for patients who require these to survive, but are very dangerous to those with different intentions. Performance enhancing drugs are addictive, illegal, prevent growth, and can be very deadly to anyone, no matter the age.

Numerous athletes struggle with drug abuse and substance abuse. Athletes sometimes form addictions to drugs prior to entering their sport and have a hard time quitting their addiction. Drug Rehab states, “However, like millions of Americans, athletes grapple with drug and alcohol addictions.” Drug Rehab also goes on to say, “rarely a day passes without news of a player entering rehab, failing a drug test, partying lavishly, or over dosing on a substance.” Professional sports enable substance abuse. Many athletes are paid large sums and can access drugs easily. Easy access to drugs has shattered the lives of many

One of the most common PEDs used in the sports world is anabolic steroids. Of course a long list of other drugs come to mind such as Adderall and testosterone, but they all increase the human body’s physical capabilities in some way shape or form. Athletes use anabolic

When it comes to performance enhancing drugs, I would draw the line on what was considered illegal. They are illegal for a reason, and some performance enhancing drugs give players a clear advantage. A lineman in the NFL taking steroids would clearly benefit in an increase in strength and agility. It would be a crime to see all drugs in sports considered legal. I think it would be a detriment to society and would not send the right message to young people on how to achieve their goals. Young people would see athletes in professional sports and would be looking up to someone who no longer worked hard to get to their position, but just look drugs to reach their goals, what kind of message does that send. For years, at least to my knowledge, many

“A significant number of adolescents are not involved in competitive athletics use performance-enhancing substances”(Lindros,2017). In today’s society, children are stuck on the thought of winning than more on just having fun. So they have a mentality that they will stop at nothing and try to win. The pediatricians to these adolescents that use PEDs came up with three points on the policy of this state. “First, the intentional use of any substance for performance enhancement is unfair, and therefore,, morally and ethically indefensible. Second, use of any substance, including over-the-counter supplements, the composition and quality of which are not under federal regulation, may pose a significant health risk to the young person. Third, use and promotion of performance-enhancing substances tends to devalue the principles of a balanced diet, good coaching, and sound physical training”(Lindros,2017). In today’s society, sports organizations have defined performance-enhancing substances as substances that create an unfair competitive advantage. They have produced a list of all the banned drugs that have been associated with adverse health

There are many different kinds of performance enhancing drugs used in all different types of sports and levels of sports. These drugs range from making the athletes more muscular to giving them more energy. Athletes choose to use these drugs to make them an overall better player. However, many performance enhancing drugs are illegal and are considered cheating if used. Cocaine is a widely-used drug that many athletes use to gain a “rush” during their games/performances. It is considered an illegal drug made out of leaves from a cocoa plant derived from South America (NIDA 2016).

"Teen Athletes and Steroid Use." Gale Student Resources in Context, Gale, 2017. Research in Context, go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?p=MSIC&sw=w&u=leb32560&v=2.1&id=GALE%7CWUGNIY991716166&it=r&asid=e365f3dfb4546385d4524bacef601f9a. Accessed 7 Apr. 2017.