2. Why do People take Steroids?
Even though there are many side effects from taking steroids many people abuse the drug. According to a report done by the NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse) people take steroids to better their performance in sports. People also abuse the drug to increase muscle size or to reduce body fat. Some of these people suffer from a behavioral syndrome as they have a distorted image of their body. Males with this syndrome feel they are small and weak even though they may be large and muscular. Females with the syndrome regard themselves as fat even if they are slim. The report also states that people that have experienced sexual or physical abuse are likely to take steroids to protect themselves. One study concluded that women weight lifters that have been raped are twice as likely to use anabolic steroids or another muscle building drug. These women believe that attackers would find them unattractive or feel intimidated by their size. Teenagers that take steroids are likely those that are prone to a pattern of high-risk behaviors such as drinking and driving. (http://165.112.78.61/ResearchReports/Steroids/anabolicsteroids3.html#why)
3. Side Effects
Athletes that take anabolic steroids are prone to the negative side effects. There is considerable evidence that males and females are effected differently. An article posted on steroids.com confirms that when males discontinue steroid use they are prone to female characteristics. This is a result of excessive levels of testosterone that is converted into the female hormone estrogen. Estrogen produces the formation of breasts, increased fatty deposits, and extremely soft muscles. Males also experience a lower production of testosterone effecting sperm count.
Females that take anabolic steroids experience male characteristics. These changes include facial hair, deep voice, baldness, and increased aggression. This process occurs when steroids are taken in high dosages over a long period of time. People that take steroids are also prone to changes in their skin, growth defects, headaches, kidney problems, liver problems, high blood pressure, stomachaches and water/salt retention
(http://www.steroids.com/steroidsideeffects.asp)
4. Drug Testing
On the web site howstuffworks.com it illustrates how athletes are tested for steroids. They are detected by samples of urine. Gas Chromatography and Mass Spectrometry are the two most common methods of testing urine for evidence of drugs. Gas Chromatography involves vaporizing the urine sample and inserting it in to a machine. The machine dissolves the urine into gas. Each substance within the urine dissolves at a different rate of speed called retention time. The retention time is plotted and then analyzed. Mass Spectrometry involves blowing apart the urine sample with an electron beam. The fragments are inserted into a detector that determines the contents.
Even though there are tests that can determine steroid use among athletes many people try to cover drug use. The use of Epiestosterone, Plasma and Secretion expanders reduce the presence of illegal drugs. Epiestosterone can be injected into the body to hide the use of testosterone/steroids. Athletes use plasma expanders to dilute the concentration of banned substances found in their blood. Finally, secretion inhibitors stop banned substances from being removed by blocking a protein in the kidney. When this protein is blocked unfamiliar substances do not appear in a urine sample. (http://www.howstuffworks.com/athletic-drug-test7.htm)
5. Laws against Steroids
Even though many athletes use steroids they are illegal. In an article posted on musclebuilder.com the laws against steroids are presented. It states that the United States government brought their attention to the problem in the mid 1980s. They addressed the problem by establishing the Anabolic Steroid Control Act in 1990. The act categorizes steroids to be in the same drug class as amphetamines, methamphetamins, opium, and morphine. Possession of the drug can lead to one year in jail or a minimum fine of $1000. A person who is caught with the drug and has a previous narcotic offence will be imprisoned for 15 days to up to two years along with a minimum fine of $2,500. Those who have two or more drug convictions can be sentenced for 90 days up to three years with a minimum fine of $5,000. People that are caught with steroids with the intent to sell face a federal felony charge. They can serve a jail term of five years and/or a $250,000 fine. Those who are selling steroids with a pervious drug violation can be sentenced to ten years in jail and/or increased fines. (www.musclebuilder.com/cmgesq.htm)
References
Anabolics.com Inc. Anabolic Steroid Side Effects. Retrieved April 4 from World Wide
Web: http://www.steroids.com/steroidsideeffects.asp
Collins, R. (1999). If you get arrested for anabolic steroids.
Retrieved April 7, 2002 from the World Wide Web:
http://www.musclebuilder.com/cmgesq.htm
Collins, McDonald and Gann. (2002). Steroids 101. Attorneys at Law. Retrieved April 4
from World Wide Web: http://www.steroidlaw.com/steroids101.htm
Freudenrich, C. (1998-2002). Testing Athletes for Drug Use. How Performance-
Enhancing Drugs Work. Retrieved April 5 from the World Wide Web;
http://www. howstuffworks.com/athletic-drug-test7.htm)
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Anabolic Steroid Abuse. Retrieved April 5 from the
WorldWideWeb: http://165.112.78.61/ResearchReports/Steroids/anabolicsteroids3
.html#why
NIDA, (2002). What are steroids? Steroid information. Retrieved April 4 from World
Wide Web: http://www.steroidinformation.com/default.htm
