Steroid Facts

Recent statistics report that over 3 million athletes and bodybuilders in this country alone have used anabolic steroids. A recent Sports Illustrated article has stated that 90% of professional athletes have at one time taken some form of illegal performance enhancing drugs. This is amidst a vast array of scare tactics, steroid testing, new steroid legislation, and education programs which have been designed to directly put an end to their usage. The efforts that have been made to halt the usage of these drugs so far has been ineffective. The fact is that steroid use in this country is still growing and will continue to do so unless a new solution is devised.

The vast popularity of anabolic steroids is due to their powerful reaction on the body to help promote muscle mass and strength increases. Needless to say steroids therefore have a close relationship to the two factors of bodybuilding and improving athletic performance. These two factors are in turn directly related to the inherent need that man has to exert dominance over other males. This can be verbally, intellectually, physically, or aesthetically. In our society we have always praised the athletes that achieve the most amazing physical feats or that have achieved cosmetic perfection. Lets face it, having large muscle enhances confidence, strength, and physical attraction from the opposite sex which can lead to positive popularity. Being extra strong can also dramatically aid an individuals performance in most sports. A person that is in shape usually portrays a sense of control and enjoyment for their life that is envied by most. Anabolic steroids have been touted as the best and almost overnight way to achieve strength, power and an extraordinary physique which leads to instant personal gratification. Steroids have been around for the past 40 years and have been used by athletes and bodybuilders as a means of enhancing cosmetic appearance, athletic performance and physical strength.

The Russians were the first to utilize these drugs with extreme success (primarily testosterone) to enhance athletic performance. Scientists soon discovered that they could chemically alter testosterone and remove most of its virilizing side effects. This was the birth of anabolic steroids. By the late 1950’s most of the anabolic steroids that are used today had already been invented. Their usage has since spread and they are now used and manufactured in virtually every country in the world. In addition to the aforementioned cosmetic and physical benefits of these drugs, anabolic steroids have also gained some valuable use in the medical community. Their most beneficial use is in the treatment of wasting syndrome that is associated with many diseases especially AIDS. New legislation is now being passed in this country so that anabolic steroids may be legally administered by prescription to AIDS patients. This will probably facilitate the ease of attaining pharmaceutical quality drugs by athletes in this country.

This country has strict laws that enforce and regulate the sale of anabolic steroids. This makes attaining these pharmaceutical drugs very difficult. Black market entertainers have taken advantage of this opportunity and have made small fortunes selling steroids in their underground pharmacies. These “pharmacies” are usually a gym bag full of steroids in a gym locker room or bathroom. The biggest problem associated with black market steroid purchasing is the large possibility of acquiring drugs of uncertain consistency, quality, or potency. Counterfeit drugs are a widespread problem in this country and are related to a lot of the physical problems associated with steroid abuse.

As with every illicitly used drug today the user has to experience a “first time”. You don’t wake up one morning all of a sudden a junky unless you experience this “first time”. This usually occurs due to personal interest and or peer pressure. Many drug pushers promote steroid use among their peers to help make them more money. Then when the first couple of guys start blowing up like balloons there seems to be a chain reaction. All of the jocks and bodybuilders in and around that clique start taking an interest in these drugs and potentially try using them for their own overnight physical enhancement programs. Remember that everyone wants to fit in and being strong and looking good helps. Anabolic steroids may be an easy short cut to a phenomenal physique that will gain many young users much popularity and confidence. Many times natural bodybuilders that have reached their genetic potential will also experiment with anabolic steroids to further enhance their levels of strength and muscular development.

Most users of steroids do not research these drugs thoroughly before using them and just rely on the second hand information passed along to them by their dealer. This irresponsible use of steroids is an enormous factor which leads to the abuse of these drugs. Just think about this. The abuse of almost any substance known to man can hurt you. Taking an entire bottle of aspirin could definitely lead to a life threatening situation. What makes steroids any different? They’re not but their muscle building, fat burning and emotional lifting action on the mind and body can be extremely powerful and physiologically addicting. These effects may leads to its use and extreme abuse. People are generally never completely satisfied with the results that they achieve from using steroids because they know that if they use just a little bit more they will get just a little bit bigger and stronger. This thought cycle continues until the user is on a roller coaster of abuse that usually leads to an onslaught of physical and mental health problems. A lack of education about the safest ways to use these drugs also may contribute to these health risks.

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