Use of Anabolic Steroids in the U.S.

Steroids are a hot topic of debate and controversy in the world of athletes and sports. Steroids fall under the umbrella of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) and are a dark cloud that have been hovering over the sports world for a long time. In the world today, steroids are the most relevant in major league baseball. Many baseball players, such as Barry Bonds, Alex Rodriguez, Ryan Braun, and Mark McGwire, just to name a few, have ruined their reputations because of steroids. There are repercussions for PED use in major league baseball, which have cut down on the substance abuse by players but have nowhere near eliminated the problem.

Another effect from steroid use is health problems. They are high blood pressure and heart disease, liver damage and cancer, kidney and prostate problems and increased risk of ruptured tendons… acne and hair loss, as well as gender-specific problems: atrophy of the testicles, reduced sperm count and the growth of breasts in men; the growth of body hair, deeper voice and menstrual problems in women… altered moods, depression and "roid rage", hallucinations, paranoia and anxiety. In adolescents, they can stunt growth by signaling the body

D. Common side effects for woman and men as stated in the article Health Effects of Steroids “ For both sexes…Kidney stress/damage, High blood pressure, Hair loss, Cardiovascular diseases, Acne, Enlarged heart, and Tendon & ligament injuries.”

Steroids come with three different types of risks/side effects that include: mental health, addictive potential and physical dangers. Steroids have immediate effects on the brain of a user as soon as they begin taking them. As soon as steroids are introduced into the user’s system, they “[bind to the] androgen (male sex hormone) and estrogen (female sex hormone) receptors on the surface of a cell.” Studies have suggested that “steroids may contribute to psychiatric dysfunction, paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility” (“NIDA InfoFacts: Steroids (Anabolic-Androgenic)”, 2009). These mental side effects also contribute to the growing narcissistic nature of steroid users, where they feel invincible, that no one is better than them, or

Steroid abuse has become a huge problem in professional sports today. Athletes are now using steroids to gain a competitive edge over their opponents. Also, the athletes are using the steroids to recover quickly from major injuries or surgeries. Many former superstar athletes have been caught taking steroids during the season and offseason.

Users have different reasons for doping and, subsequently, steroids have different health consequences. Some common side effects from steroid use are the following: acne, genital changes, water retention, yellowing of the eyes and skin; women may experience: male-pattern baldness, decreased breast size, deeper voices, hairy bodies, and menstrual irregularities; men may experience: reduced sperm production, shrinking of the testicles, impotence, difficulty or pain in urinating, baldness, and irreversible breast enlargement. But these are just minor setbacks right? One could say that, like those aren’t bad, but researchers have also linked steroid abuse to much more serious risks such as: fatal liver cysts, liver cancer, blood clotting, cholesterol changes, hypertension, stroke, and even heart attack. Despite all these potential problems, many still choose to take steroids.

The competitive drive to win at all cost is fierce among athletes. Winning at all cost often includes using one of many performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids. Many athletes use performance enhancing drugs, like steroids, to achieve higher goals and set higher records than other drug-free successful athletes. Although athletes are performing at higher levels when using such drugs, what is the cost? Finally anabolic steroids should remain banned from sports because their use results in many harmful side effects; because their use violates sports regulations, and because their use can cause death.

Abstract:  With the increase of competition has also come the need to become bigger and stronger than the opponent.  The use of steroids among athletes has caused the focus of the game to change.  No longer does an athlete want to win by doing their best, but they want to become bigger and have an advantage over the opponent.  Ultimately, all athletes feel that they need to use performance-enhancing drugs to compete at the same level. Despite all of the warnings and information on performance-enhancing drugs, athletes continue to use them and overlook the potential health risks associated with steroids.

If someone did something, they probably enjoy it and relish what they do, so naturally they would want to improve. For some, the desire may be so strong that they could consider doing an illegal substance. Everyone has most likely heard of steroids and wonder what they are. Steroids were first found naturally from hormones. (E) Later could be made into a synthetic drug. The most known steroids are anabolic and cortisone steroids. (D) This means it can be created in a science lab. Steroids can be taken either orally or injected directly into the muscle. (C,D) So someone could take steroids by a pill or inject a liquid via needle. Some side effects of steroids can be reverse easily, by just stopping to use the drug. (D) Steroids were first used in World War Two. Steroids were used to increase aggression in older Nazi soldiers. Steroids would increase aggression due to something known as “’roid rage” which makes the user angry. They were not only used on soldier, but also used on P.O.W. (E) Prisoners were given steroids so they would be stronger, making them live a little longer and to increase production in forced labor camps. Steroids are used for many different reasons, even to this day. Steroids are used for many different reasons because of such benefits as medical use; increase of strength or for athletics.

“…medical researchers believe that between 1 and 3 million youths and adults have taken anabolic steroids in one form or another specifically to enhance their looks or athletic performances,” stated Nuwer (Nuwer, 61). As astounding as these figures are, the number of performance drug users is steadily increasing. With this progressively increasing numbers, it is projected that millions more will use steroids in the immediate future (Newer, 61). Athletes have always sought an advantage in competition even if ignoring the law and their health if necessary. Using drugs of any sort to facilitate an athlete’s athletic ability should be illegal. The use of performance enhancing drugs is not only detrimental to the user but it also creates an

Anabolic steroids will either help a person or break a person. Anabolic Steroids affect the body,emotions, hormones, and cause deadly infections. Anabolic Steroids also help people with body conditions.

So as to follow the history and advancement of anabolic steroids from their starting to their present day structure, we initially need to think back towards old times, when it was realized that the testicles were required for both the improvement and upkeep of male sexual qualities. In advancement, this idea was further created, by a researcher named Berthold and his examinations on cockerels done in 1849. He expelled the testes from these winged creatures, and they lost a few of the attributes basic to the male of their species, including sexual capacity. In this way, we knew as right on time as 1849 that the testicles worked to elevate what we consider to be essential male sexual properties; at the end of the day, they are what "make men into men". Berthold additionally found that if the testicles were uprooted and after that transplanted to the stomach area, the sexual capacity of the winged animals was to a great extent unaffected. At the point when the fowls were analyzed, it was found that no apprehensive associations were shaped, yet a limitlessly broad arrangement of capillarization occurred. (1) This gave solid confirmation that "the testes follow up on the blood" (2) and he further inferred this blood then systemically affected the whole living being. Anabolic Steroid history, along these lines, can be really said to have made its initial step with this straightforward arrangement of tests.

While these effects of performance-enhancing drugs seem desirable, a majority of athletes are unaware of the risks and complications that come with the use of these drugs. Erythropoietin causes the blood to become thicker due to the extra red blood cells. This can lead to an increase in the likelihood of an athlete having a heart attack, stroke, or blockage in the blood vessels. Anabolic steroids have the largest range of side effects. Taking anabolic steroids may lead to severe acne, liver abnormalities, high blood pressure, heart and circulatory problems, increased chances of tendinitis, and aggressive behaviors including rage and violence. Anabolic steroids also have different risks for men and women. Men may develop breasts, shrunken testicles,

In the past three decades, steroids has been becoming a serious problem more than ever in the athletic field. Steroids are anabolic drug "to build" growth hormones that include the androgens (male sex hormones) principally testosterone and estrogen and progestogens (female sex hormones). Steroids were first developed for medical purposes. They're used in controlling inflammation, strengthening weakened hearts, preventing conception, and alleviating symptoms of arthritis and asthma. Unfortunately research has shown that steroids have been abused in almost every kind of sport. Although steroids contribute to a muscular body, usage should remain illegal because they physically deteriorate and mentally destroy the body.

To stop the destruction of the athletes, the U.S government has to take direct actions. To be more specific, the Department of Health must insert strict laws to forbid the supplements stores for selling illegal anabolic steroids. If this action will be taken, the results will be positive because at first the law will reduce the public access to the steroids and then completely annihilate it. At the moment, every athlete, professional or not, can easily purchase anabolic steroids from local supplement stores or online. According to the Association against Steroid Abuse “ You see them (anabolic steroids) all over the Internet and they pop-up almost every day; advertisements for cheap steroids from a new groundbreaking lab”(AASA). The government has to prevent these stores from selling the illegal products by forcing the stores’ owners to stop buying the illegal chemicals and then made it accessible to the public.