What are Anabolic Steroids? :: essays research papers

What are Anabolic Steroids? Anabolic steroids - or more precisely, anabolic/androgenic steroids - belong to a group known as ergogenic, or so-called "performance-enhancing," drugs. They are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, a natural male hormone. "Anabolic" means growing or building. "Androgenic" means "masculinizing or generating male sexual characteristics. Most healthy males produce between 2 and 10 milligrams of testosterone a day. http://www2.msstate.edu/~jnd2/index.html Reasons for Steroid Use The most common reasons people use anabolic steroids are to: increase muscle mass increase strength train harder reduce the recovery time needed after training Some people believe the benefit from taking steroids is physiological, they make people feel that they are stronger or faster. Others believe that they make people feel that they are more aggressive and so they are able to train harder. Steroid Usage Among Teenagers Steroid usage has often been stereotyped to football players, weightlifters and bodybuilders. New research suggests that this is far from true. Instead, most heavy steroid users are middle class white males, 35% of which do not intend on participating in sporting events. 26% of high school age steroid users cited personal appearance as their primary motive for using the drug. These new trends in steroid use have been attributed to the "new male image" that is being splashed throughout advertisements and magazines. Teenage males develop a desire for the lean, mean and muscular look exemplified by Calvin Klien models and others. The quickest way to success is through anabolic steroids. Many of these teenagers will risk possibility of the side effects associated with steroid usage in exchange for respect. Despite massive weight and muscle gains, many steroid users are never quite happy with their physique. This condition is being labeled as "reverse anorexia" by psychologists and doctors. "I have seen a kid gain 100 pounds in 14 months and still not be satisfied," reports Neil Carolan of BryLin Hospital in Buffalo. Carolan has counseled over 200 teenage steroid users. Arnold Schwarzenegger, once a steroid user himself, addresses the issue of teenage steroid use. "Teenagers should never take anabolic steroids in an attempt to build up the size and strength of their muscle structure. During the teenage years, young males are already in their most anabolic state, with testosterone flooding the system. Adding synthetic anabolic at this point is totally unnecessary." history Greek Olympians used strychnine and hallucinogenic mushrooms to "psyche up" for an event. In 1886 a French cyclist was the first athlete to die from using a performance enhance, called speedballs, a mixture of cocaine and heroin. In the 1920's, physicians inserted slices of monkey testicles into male athletes to help