FREE ESSAY ON STEROIDS IN SPORTS

STEROIDS IN SPORTS

Steroids In Sports
The use of anabolic steroids among athletes has become a controversial topic in the
United States. Taking anabolic steroids is illegal, and furthermore these drugs may have
harmful and sometimes deadly effects. The results of taking anabolic steroids, gaining
weight and building muscle rapidly, are very appealing to many athletes. Over the past
decade, the use of these "roids" among teens has increased by an amazing 23% (Cochran
n.p.). Adolescent boys may feel they need a muscular physique before summer to look good
or they may also insist on taking them for a little extra help to make the baseball team.
Today, teens can simply inject the steroids into their systems with a needle or the drugs
can easily be swallowed in a pill form. Also, many teen's role models, such as major
league baseball players, put on muscle and increase strength by using such anabolic
steroids that many teens can easily obtain. For instance, Mark McGwire, a major league
baseball player for the St. Louis Cardinals, is quoted in advertisements for a California
company as saying he, "gained twelve pounds of muscle and doubled my strength in one
month", by using nutritional supplements. According to the company, McGwire was told to
take thirty tablets of Anabol-350, twelve grams of GH Releaser, and eight to twelve
Vanadyl tablets a day (Farrey n.p.). By ingesting these drugs, this means that McGwire
was taking between 50 and 54 pills of steroids daily. This can be extremely harmful to
one's body. 
Without conideration of the future consequences, athletes use these steroids for the
quickest path to success. What most people don't realize is that the effects on young
teenage boys are far worse than the effctes on grown men. Studies have shown that the use
of these steroids have begun at the tender age of ten years old. As one angry high school
football coach recently said, "We can't keep fooling ourselves. It's here and we have to
do something to stop it" (Cochran n.p.). So it is obvious to assume that the temptation
for players to take steroids and achive the competaive edge they desire, is as natural as
green grass and flowing rivers. 
In my opinion, the psychological effects and more importantly the physical side effects
of using anabolic steroids are the main reasons why individuals should stay away from
these drugs. For example, statistics reveal that 71% of "roid" users suffer from liver
disease later on in their adult lives, an amazing 56% will suffer