In the past three decades, steroids have become a serious problem in the athletic field. Steroids are anabolic drugs used to build growth hormones that include androgens (male sex hormones), principally testosterone, and estrogen and progestogens (female sex hormones).
Steroids were first developed for medical purposes. They are 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 by steroids because of their ability to build up the body. Whether taken by injection or pill, they increase strength and endurance. Steroids also aid in the healing process of muscular tissue by first injuring them, then allowing the muscles to heal quicker, adding more fiber and increasing their bulk. Many athletes turn to steroids because they are cheaper than marijuana or cocaine. A ten-week cycle of testosterone cypionate and methandrostone costs only about one hundred dollars. Steroids are also difficult to trace due to their water-based composition.
They can pass through the body within two days. All these benefits of steroids help athletes become more competitive and increase their chances of winning. 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 developing a hematoma and contracting AIDS.
In women, steroids contribute to the growth of facial hair, enlargement 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 breasts. Both men and women may experience hair loss, liver ailments, acne, atherosclerosis, and cancer, which are very common side effects. This dangerous drug can shorten the lifespan by up to twenty years and increase the chances 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. They get so wrapped up psychologically that the negative effects don’t matter to them.
Research has also discovered that steroids cause psychotic side effects, sometimes referred to as roidmania.” 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 the ability to reason. Overall, the usage of steroids is very damaging to the human body.
Although they can physically enhance performance, the risks of steroid use are enormous. Steroids can cause physical deterioration and mental destruction of the body. Their usage provides an unfair advantage to non-user athletes, and therefore, they should remain illegal for non-medical use.
