Research Paper on Anabolic-androgenic Steroids

They’re among the world’s most controversial drugs. Not Heroin, Ganja, Coke or Crystal Meth, but Anabolic Steroids. Steroids are medical treatments that come in two varieties: Anabolic Steroids and Corticosteroids. These are both synthetic versions of hormones produced naturally in the body but they perform two completely different tasks. Corticosteroids are used by doctors to decrease inflammation. Anabolic Steroids are the familiar term for the synthetic version of the male sex hormone testosterone. Its technical name although, is Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (AAS). “Anabolic referring to muscle-building and Androgenic referred to increased male sexual characteristics,” defined by the National

The definition of steroids is, "man-made derivatives of testosterone, the male hormone. They synthesize protein and help promote muscle growth" (Iole 1). Types of steroids include anabolic and growth hormones. The definition of an anabolic steroid is, "Any drug or harmful substance, chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone (other than estrogen, progestins, and corticostoroids) that promotes muscle growth, any drug or hormonal substance that stimulates the endogenous production of steroids in the human body which acts in the same manner" (Collins 1). Types of anabolic steroids include oral and intramuscular injection. Steroids taken orally have a half-life of several hours, while injected steroids have a half-life of several days (Collins 1). Steroids taken orally usually come on the form of a pill. It takes these water-soluble pills three to four weeks to clear the body. The oil-based injections take six to eight months to leave the body (Cochran 2). After steroids are taken, the steroid molecule bonds to cell receptor sites. Now the steroid molecule can increase protein synthesis, increase nitrogen retention, make metabolic changes, and increase size and strength of skeletal muscle cells. These all lead to bigger and stronger muscles (Collins 1). Some names of popular steroids include Nelvar, Deca-Durabolin, Anavar, Winstrol, Stanozolol, Dianabol, and Anadrol-50 (Nuwer 17).

Sub-point A: According to an article on the National Institute on Drug Abuse, a website filled with information on drugs, last updated on March 2016, anabolic steroids are synthetic (lab made) variations of the male sex hormone testosterone. The proper term for these compounds is anabolic-androgenic steroids. "Anabolic" refers to muscle building, and "androgenic" refers to increased male sex characteristics. Some common names used for anabolic steroids are Gear, Juice, Roids, and Stackers.

More than one million Americans have abused illegal anabolic steroids. Steroids can be taken in four ways, by mouth, injection, nasal sprays, and by skin creams or patches. Steroids increase risk of infection. Sharing needles or using dirty needles or inject steroids creates a risk for diseases such as HIV, AIDS, and hepatitis. Steroid related fatalities occur as a result of suicide, homicide, liver disease, heart attack, and cancer.

They are abused by both athletes and non-athletes in an attempt to “enhance performance and/or physical appearance” (“NIDA InfoFacts: Steroids (Anabolic-Androgenic)”, 2009). Steroids, typically taken orally or by injection, are used in “cycles” where a user takes steroids for a period of time, then stops for another length of time and then the pattern continues. Steroids are considered very dangerous, fickle substances that have the potential to mess up the user’s bodily functions if care is not taken while on them.

Testosterone is a hormone in both men and women, but in greater extent in the men, testosterone is a chemical compound (C19H28O2) and is responsible for the characteristic of men such as, sexual characteristics/sexual organs, deepening of the voice, and facial and body hair. (Neil Schlager, Jayne Weisblatt, and David E. Newton 2006) Testosterone/Steroids has bodybuilding and masculinizing effect as well as treating a variety of medical conditions, like asthma, the steroid is used in a puffer, they can be used for anabolic or androgenic purposes and made for synthetic purposes making them illegal. (BROWER, K. J. 2001) Many athletes will use these to gain an advantage on competitors, with lean muscle and higher endurance, with many uses, there

Steroids (anabolic) are a drug that was discovered and made by medical scientists in the last 1930’s to help with medical problems. The drug was made to help with many medical problems such as testosterone, growth, sexual functioning, and other medical problems such as helping people with HIV to help grow musical. It also helps with many other diseases. Like any other drug on the market people learn that the drug can be used for many other ways. Steroids can enhance athlete’s performance as well as bodybuilders and is used in almost every sport out there. The use of steroids has become a widespread problem. Steroid use has caused many help problems with the misuse of the drug and has caused the drug to be illegal for people to use them in

Anabolic and androgenic steroids come in many different forms. The most popular form is a pill and is easy to take. The draw back of the pill is it is hard on the liver and kidneys because it passes through the system in a couple of hours. Another popular form is cream. The cream’s advantage is it is easy to apply and is less harmful to the body. The draw back is it is very ineffective. The last form is injection. Injecting straight into the muscle gives the best results. Most serious athletes that use enhancement drugs take pills every day of their cycle and inject three times a week.

Aside from the people that are prescribed these substances for medical reasons anabolics are abused by people who are looking to change their physical health, appearance or even performance. Firstly the common users that use steroids include. Body builders looking to gain muscle, Athletes

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

People use steroids for many reasons whether it is to bulk up, perform faster and stronger or to improve their physique. Steroids are known to produce both anabolic and androgenic effects. Which are muscle building and masculine characteristic effects. The anabolic effects raise testosterone

Stacking is a method of combining different steroids to take at once, like stacking the drugs on top of each other. This method is believed to make certain steroids work better when they are used together. This also is used to help build up tolerance to the steroids (Volkow, 2-3).

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary anabolic steroids are any of a group of usually synthetic hormones that are derivatives of testosterone, are used medically specially to promote tissue growth, and are sometimes abused by athletes to increase the size and strength of their muscles and improve endurance. The main purpose of anabolic steroids is to gain strength and muscle very quickly and faster than any other drug enhancement. There are many types of models that relate to anabolic steroids. One model is high school athletes who use anabolic steroids and would mostly fall in the performance enhancer model category. Many may ask, what exactly are performance enhancement drugs? Performance enhancement drugs are substances used to improve any form of activity performance in humans. There are many experiments done on the use of anabolic steroids within high schools. According to the Huffington Post as of 2011, 13 percent of boys who play football in high school take anabolic steroids and that is just football players. All of these young athletes who take steroids use the drug to become stronger. An average of 8.8 percent of female high school athletes have also tried or currently use anabolic steroids. The crave to have a “buffed body” is a big trend for young adults. A study from the University of Michigan showed that in 1992, 72 percent of high school seniors believed that those using steroids “risked harming themselves” (Are Student Athletes Taking Steroids?). Just

Users often utilize a dangerous practice known as stacking, the combination several different types of steroids to maximize their effectiveness (http://www.nashville.net/~acarney/8html).

Some athletes take straight testosterone to boost their performance better. Frequently, the anabolic steroids the athletes use are synthetic modifications of testosterone. These hormones have approved medical uses, though improving athletic performance is not one of them. They can be taken as pills, injections or topical treatments.