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Anabolic Steroid Use

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Anabolic steroids are man-made compounds, related to testosterone, used to promote muscle growth and performance. They have a notorious history and are currently prevalent in weightlifting and sporting communities. The smallest subset within that community are adolescents. Anabolic steroid usage as an adolescent is the most harmful time a person can use steroids because they are illegal and dangerous without a doctor’s prescription and monitoring, prematurely stunt physical growth, and the side effects can be temporary, permanent or, in rare cases, deadly.
The origin of anabolic steroids can be traced back to the early 1930’s when scientist were able to synthesize testosterone in order treat men unable to develop and grow normally or function …show more content…
This act introduced consequences at a federal level to deter the growing issue of anabolic steroid usage. Common brand name examples of this steroid are Androsterone, Oxandrin, Dianabol, Winstrol, Deca-durabolin, and Equipoise. If a person is found in possession of steroids without a proper prescription they would be fined a minimum of $1000 and could expect to spend at least one year in prison. The CSA also addressed trafficking with a maximum five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if this is the individual’s first felony drug offense. This law has had little effect on actual usage and sales of steroids. The black market for illegal steroids is an estimated $400 million per year (Maryland, 2013). Obtaining steroids is a relatively easy process for anyone with access to the internet. A number of online vendors sell anabolic steroids without a prescription (Ali Mohamadi, 2013). Anabolic steroids can also be obtained through illegal seizure from countries outside of the United States, thefts from legitimate companies, or produced in unauthorized laboratories. Some over the counter dietary supplements may contain this form of steroids without proper …show more content…
One important detail that teenagers fail to realize is that taking steroids at this phase in their development can and will have long term ramifications. This type of androgenic steroid can cause the early closure of physes in children and adolescents preventing them from achieving their full height due to an interruption of natural development (Fitness, 1997). Examples of short term effects anyone abusing this type of steroid may have are hair loss, increased aggression, depression, or suicidal tendencies, high blood pressure, alterations in cholesterol or blood lipids and increased rate of muscle strains. Boys may experience gynecomastia, shrinking of testicles, and azoospermia. While young women may begin having menstrual irregularities, excessive facial or body hair growth, infertility, clitoromegaly, and a deeper voice that may remain even when the steroids are no longer taken (Anabolic, n.d.). Long term effects that can manifest years after abuse are liver, heart, and kidney diseases depending on what type of anabolic steroid was abused and how the body metabolizes it. Other factors that are not always considered is that the steroids affect a part of the brain called the limbic system that controls mood. “Long-term steroid abuse can lead to aggressive behavior and extreme mood swings. This is

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