Jerry Walker
English 120
November 15, 2012
Steroids: “Giving you a boost or do you really need them to stay in the game?”
Even if you’re a true athlete you know there is always room for improvement, you may hear commotion from television or in the locker rooms about drugs that supposedly known to give you a step up on the competition and majority of the people already know what it is. The answer to that are steroids. Do you know what steroids actually are and how they can potentially harm our bodies and chances to still be able to play sports? Or what’s the reasoning for athletes turning to them? Athletes turn to steroids for many reasons such as peer pressure, pressure to perform to expectations, family reasons, or just because we want to be better than somebody that is better than us. What people and athletes don’t know is that many doctors prescribe steroids to treat numerous health problems but they don’t allow athletes to use them. If not prescribed by a doctor, using steroids are illegal! “Recent studies have shown that individuals from all different cultures and ethnicities are using and abusing steroids for the obvious physical benefits.” (Dr. Jones). From a wide range of athletes such as baseball players to boxers and body builders, steroids have given the world of amateur athletes and professional sports players a bad name for decades because of the choices they decide to make. Athletes do not know the effects steroids have on the body because they are all hung up in the now. Steroids seem to be the right things to do at first, but after using them a few times things in your body start to change physically, mentally, and emotionally and then it takes a toll on your athletic career. Anabolic steroids are another branch of the naturally occurring male anabolic hormone which is testosterone. Both anabolic and androgenic names have origins from the Greek words: anabolic, meaning "to build," and androgenic, meaning "muscle." Testosterone's natural androgenic effects trigger the maturing of the male reproductive system in puberty, including the growth of body and pubic hair and the deepening of the voice. Anabolic effect helps the body save dietary protein, which aids in the development of muscles and body mass. “Although there are many types of steroids with varying degrees of anabolic and androgenic properties, it's the anabolic property of steroids that lures athletes, they take them to primarily increase muscle mass and strength."(BGC-Steroids)
Steroids can do many different things to the human body; they rapidly increase the hormone's testosterone, which in response helps build muscles faster and can help you run faster. However, while doing this steroids can lead to liver damage or even cancer, also prevents the bones from growing, these are all physical effects that steroids can have on the human body. Steroids can also be the reason for vigorous mood swings; they play a part in an athletes memory loss and learning defect. What steroids can do to your body is not the main point of talk. Steroids also cause behavioral changes stretching from aggression and hostility to what is called "Road Rages." Recent studies have showed that long-time steroid users and steroid abusers may have difficulty stopping the use of steroid use and show withdrawal symptoms. "Addiction is an extreme of dependency, which may be a psychological, if not physical, phenomena." (Dr. Wadler) Regardless, at the end of the day there is no question that when you use steroids when not prescribed it will have a negative effect on one's body. Steroid abusers have extreme problems eliminating the habit even though they know it's harmful for them and their well being. Most high school athletes have never tried steroids that’s why high school athletes rarely get drug tested but most of them do take muscle milk which is illegal in college. College athletes get surprise drug test often to make sure steroids or marijuana is not in there system.