Steroids Essay, Research Paper
Steroids
Should steroids be legal? Well let’s start of with what are steroids? Steroids are classified in the encyclopedia as “any of class of lipids having a molecular structure based on four joined carbon rings with hydrogen molecules attached.”(encylopedia.com)
“Anabolic steroids – or more precisely, anabolic/androgenic steroids – belong to a group known as ergogenic, or so-called “performance-enhancing,” drugs. Some medical types are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, a natural male hormone. “Anabolic” means growing or building.”(Nida.nih)
Steroids are imitations of the hormone testosterone. The U. S. Food and Drug Administration has allowed certain types steroids for healing anemia, some breast cancers, osteoporosis, endometriosus, and a few other diseases. Many uses are being found in research for steroids that deal with healing of patients after surgery. The FDA said that the claims were not accurate and denied the use. The body produces between 2 and 10 milligrams of testosterone a day. “This hormone helps the body retain dietary protein, aiding the growth of muscles, bones, and skin.”(Encyclopedia.com) Steroid users sometimes get more than 100 milligrams of testosterone a dose, which exceeds the FDA recommended allowances. This is not healthy for the body causing many side effects. These steroids are not used for medical reasons. Steroids have been found to increase lean muscle mass found in the body, and cause the muscles to retain water, increasing the body mass or bulking up the body. Steroids in such big doses have the side effects “acne, jaundice, trembling, swelling of feet or ankles, bad breath, reduction in HDL, the “good” cholesterol, high blood pressure, liver damage and cancers, aching joints, increased chance of injury to tendons, ligaments, and muscles.”(Research Reports) These are side effects that affect both sexes. Men experience “shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, impotence, baldness, difficulty or pain in urinating, development of breasts, and enlarged prostate.”(Research Reports) Women experience “growth of facial hair, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, deepened voice, and breast reduction.”(Research Reports) There are many other effects that are not listed; yet people still use steroids. Many people turn on the television and see huge bodybuilders that have used steroids. The typical steroid user is thought of as a professional bodybuilder. But this isn’t the case as I have found out. “As many as half a million Americans under age 18 may be abusing these drugs to improve athletic performance, appearance and self-image.”(Research Reports) There are even reports of police officers using them to bulk up and look tougher on the job. Athletes in sports such as football, swimming, marathon running, and track and field are all using them to get the peak performance from their bodies. The demand that society places on its people makes them look to other alternatives to help them succeed in the eyes of other people. Kids under the age of eighteen want to be cool, so they look at steroids to beef them up so the girls will look at them. Nearly one-half Division-One football players have claimed that they have used steroids to help them get stronger in the off-season. Steroids produce $400 million dollars a year in sales in the black market. In the article by Dr. Squat, which is his name, he talks about legalizing steroids because society has pushed people to use them and then made it illegal. Many bodybuilders live in San Diego area. This is because the border is so close. They drive down to Mexico, cross the border, get a shot of steroids, and then they come back. It is illegal to bring back steroids into the United States, but how can you check their bodies. People find a way to do want they want. Steroids are not good for the body, a lot of evidence has proved that, but neither does many other drugs or cigarettes for that matter. Both drugs and cigarettes kill people at alarming rates. At least steroids don’t kill the people around us, like cigarettes and other body toxins. People are pushed into using steroids by the world today. To succeed in life is the ultimate goal.
“Society demands (and rewards) greater and greater feats of athletic prowess. READ THE SPORTS PAGES! Athletes are constantly told that taking risks in sports is essential to success. And they’re constantly informed that if you only get good — REAL good — then, the pros will draft you and give you millions. (Or, you’ll get the girl, you’ll make the team, you’ll succeed, etc.). Are they wrong in their observation? No indeed. But, it really doesn’t matter if it’s right or wrong since it is the common PERCEPTION.”(Dr. Squat)
So why not legalize steroids and worry about the bigger problems that this country has?
318