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| Steroids |
Shock went through the sports
world when Canadian track star Ben Johnson lost his gold medal at the 1988
Olympics after tests showed he had taken anabolic steroids. This incident, and
many more in the past 10 years, called attention to the widespread use of
steroids among athletes. The International Olympics Committee banned steroid
use by all athletes in its member associations in 1975. Since then, most major
sports organizations have added steroids to their list of banned substances.
These organizations include:
- National Football League
- National Collegiate Athletic Association
- International Amateur Athletic Federation
- International Federation of Body Builders
What Are Anabolic Steroids?
Anabolic steroids, or anabolic androgenic steroids, are
synthetic variations of the male hormone, testosterone. They are designed to
build muscle without increasing male characteristics as much as testosterone.
There are several types of anabolic steroids, each with various combinations of
properties.
Why Are Anabolic Steroids Abused?
Throughout
history, athletes have searched for foods and potions to transform their bodies
into powerful, efficient machines. Greek wrestlers ate huge quantities of meat
to build muscle. Viking warriors ate hallucinogenic mushrooms to prepare for
battle. Anabolic steroids are the modern equivalent. Anabolic steroids are not
abused for the same reason as other drugs. Users are mainly bodybuilders,
weightlifters, football players, and discus, shot put, or javelin throwers
competitors who rely heavily on strength, as well as individuals who have self
esteem issue and use the steroids for personal body enhancement as their
opinions of themselves are generally low. While anabolic steroids have
legitimate medical uses, they do not have anti-inflammatory properties like
adrenal steroids. However, some athletes justify using them by saying they
treat or prevent injury and build muscle mass. Surprisingly, a recent study
shows that steroid abuse is not confined to professional athletes. Pennsylvania
State University reported that 6.6 percent of 3,403 high school seniors,
surveyed at 46 high schools across the nation, had used or were still using
steroids. Recent studies report that children as young as 11 and 12 years old
experiment with anabolic steroids. Increasing numbers of adolescents are
turning to anabolic steroids for cosmetic reasons, many want simply to be
stronger and look better. Users maybe 18 year-olds wanting better bodies, or 15
year-olds hurrying to grow up. They may covet athletic scholarships, dream of
playing professional sports, or just want the girl of their dreams. But, the
use of athletic steroids is not confined to males -female competitors feel the
pressure to win, too.
How Do People Start Abusing Anabolic Steroids?
People who use anabolic steroids come from many walks of life:
cities and rural areas, poor and wealthy families, all races and nationalities.
The common factor among anabolic steroid users is the desire to look, perform,
and feel better about themselves. To young steroid users, the idea of injecting
drugs may seem at first a bit scary. The first time they take anabolic steroids
usually, a coach, dealer or a friend who uses steroids injects the drug.
Eventually, users learn to inject themselves. Typically, users take steroids in
cycles and then stop. Many users believe they will only use steroids for a
short time to get into shape or build up their muscles. Unfortunately, they
quickly learn that when steroid use and training stop, muscles fade. Giving up
steroids is hard when a person's self-image depends on looks or athletic
prowess.
Steroids And The Body
Physicians believe
steroids build muscles only under certain conditions. In other words, taking
anabolic steroids does not guarantee muscle development. Anabolic steroids
increase muscles and strength only when combined with a high-intensity training
program and high-protein diet. Anabolic steroids increase the use of proteins
in foods so that their amino acids develop new muscle tissue.
 What Are The Dangers Of Anabolic Steroid Use?
Anabolic steroid users are normally aware of the dangerous side
effects. They believe these effects will happen years later, if at all. After
all, they think, you can't overdose on steroids. But the effects of anabolic
steroids are long-term, and sometimes fatal. Most anabolic steroid users die
from suicide, cancer, or liver and kidney disease rather than from overdoses.
Many, such as Lyle Alzado, former defensive lineman for the Raiders, have
allegedly died because of steroid use or its side effects. Still individuals
persist in taking them While taking steroids, users typically have higher
levels of energy, mental intensity and tolerance to pain. Many steroid users
are unable to accept defeat or failure, or deal with life's pressures
successfully; as a result, they seem to have a predisposition to use other
drugs as well, which they believe assists them in coping with life in general.
Withdrawal from steroid use generally results in depression, some may need
assistance in dealing with this depression successfully, other as a result of
this depression have committed suicide. |
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