Dangers Of Anabolic Steroids Essay, Research Paper
Dangers of Anabolic Steroids
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.
Many people are fascinated about steroids because of their
ability to build up the body. Whether taken by injection or the pill
it increases strength and endurance. Steroids also help in the healing
process of muscular tissue by first injuring them, then the muscles
heal quicker adding more fiber increasing their bulk. Many athletes
turn to steroids more often because they’re cheaper than marijuana or
cocaine. A ten week cycle of testosterone cypinate and methandrostone
costs only about one hundred dollars. Steroids are also very hard to
trace because of their water base composition. They can pass through
the body within two days. All these benefits of steroids help an
athletes become more competitive and increase their chance of being a
winner. Of course everybody wants better biceps and triceps but when
using steroids to achieve this goal there is a large price to pay.
However, steroids should remain illegal because they
physically deteriorate the whole body system. When injected one risks
the chances of developing hematoma and contracting AIDS. In women
steroids contribute to the growth of facial hair, enlargements of the
clitoris, shrinkage of the uterus, sterility, deepening of the voice,
decrease in breast size and irregularity of the menstrual cycle. In
men steroids cause shrinkage of the testicles, decrease in sperm
count, sterility, impotence, prostate enlargement and growth of female
breast. In both men and women hair loss, liver ailments, acne,
atherosierosis and cancer are very common. This dangerous drug
shortens the life span up to twenty years and increases the chance of
obtaining diabetes, cardiovascular diseases and hypertension. The side
effects and reactions from enduring anabolic steroids are endless.
Along with the physical problems there are also mental
reactions associated with the usage of steroids. This drug becomes
very addictive and damaging to the mind. It causes violent episodes
which an athlete can claim a legal insanity defense to it. They get so
wrapped up psychologically that the negative effects doesn’t matter to
them. Research has also discovered that steroids cause psychotic side
effects sometimes referred to as “roid mania”. Along with these are
wild aggressive, combative behavior, depression, listlessness and
delusions during and after performance. Even though the game is over
athletes want to continue competing. Steroids mentally destroy the
brain and ability to reason.
Overall the usage of steroids is very damaging to the human
body. Even though it physically builds up the body for better
performance the risks of use are enormous. Steroids physically
deteriorate and mentally destroy the body. The usage of steroids
provides an unfair advantage to non-user athletes and therefore should
remain illegal for non-medical use.