Essay on Steroids A Growing Role in Society - 2938 Words

Steroids: A Growing Role in Society Dear Mr.: Here is my research project on steroids and its effect on society. While conducting my research I have learned that steroids are becoming a serious and dangerous problem in society. I believe that my research project would be a good reference for anyone interested in the science and culture of steroids in America. Some of the topics I covered in my project are topics that have for the most part been ignored by most scholarly works on steroids. For example, I have devoted a whole section of my paper to the prevention and care of steroid use. I also included a large section on the scientific facts and effects that steroids have on the body. The issue of steroids in society is a very†¦show more content†¦To address this situation research on steroids and its effect will be conducted as well as a cultural evaluation of steroids in society. Introduction â€Å"Anabolic Steroids† is the familiar name for synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones (androgens). They promote the growth of skeletal muscle (anabolic effects) and the development of male sexual characteristics (androgenic effects), and also have some other effects. The term â€Å"anabolic steroids† will be used throughout this report because of its familiarity, although the proper term for these compounds is â€Å"anabolic-androgenic† steroids (Gallaway, 1997, p. 6). Anabolic steroids were developed in the late 1930s primarily to treat hypogonadism, a condition in which the testes do not produce sufficient testosterone for normal growth, development, and sexual functioning. The primary medical uses of these compounds are to treat delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and wasting of the body caused by HIV infection of other diseases (Lukas, 2001, p.11). During the 1930s, scientists discovered that anabolic steroids could facilitate the growth of skeletal muscle in laboratory animals, which led to use of the compounds first by bodybuilders and weightlifters and then by athletes in other sports. Steroid abuse has become so widespread in athletics that it affects the outcome of sports contests. More thanShow MoreRelated Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sports Essay examples1507 Words   |  7 Pagesto the athlete, but after they stop using the drugs and lose some strength, you become trapped in the steroid cycle. Steroids were developed in Europe around 1930 to treat undernourished and healing patients after surgery. Steroids are a synthetic version of the human hormone called testosterone. It stimulates development of bones and muscles. Competitive weightlifters began using these steroids around the 1950s as a way to increase their athletic performance and gain an upper hand on the restRead MoreThe Media Of Baseball And The Case Against Roger Clemens Essay1560 Words   |  7 PagesAs I mentioned previously in the paper, the media plays a huge role in the development of people perceptions and attitudes towards certain things that occur in the modern history. The link between the growing popularity of the baseball as well as increased attention to the steroids used represent topics that were highly affected by the media. The article by Healey Fall Of The Rocket: Steroids In Baseball And The Case Against Roger Clemens (2008) reveals how the drug policy has developed over timeRead MoreAthletes Use Drugs For A Variety Of Reasons1194 Words   |  5 Pagesdrug in athletes goes by the name of anabolic steroids. The best way to help clarify your understanding of the importance of anabolic steroids is to define these steroids as a synthetic way to acquire the male sex hormone testosterone. The proper name for these steroids are anabolic androgenic steroids of which â€Å"anabolic† refers to muscle building and â€Å"androgenic† refers to increasing male sex characteristics. In sports, athletes use anabolic steroids to assist them in performing with more speed andRead More Steroid Use in Pro Sports is Unethical Essay1296 Words   |  6 Pagesyou were a kid, didn’t you want to play a professional sport? What would you give to be one of the best athletes in the world? Would you risk your reputation? Your health? Would you be willing to die? Although many studies have come out saying that steroids diminish one’s health, people still take them hoping to be the best. Imagine if you were a 28 year old who left college early because a pro team â€Å"guaranteed† you that you would play in the big leagues. Yet you just got stuck in the minors, and theRead MoreHow Society Is Affected By Drug Usage In Sport?1540 Words   |  7 PagesDrugs have been a problem in our society for years. They have been used and abused by many groups, including amateur and professional athletes. Drugs are also used for recreational use not just for performance enhancement. Society is directly influenced by the usage of drugs in sport. A study in 2002 showed that An estimated 3 million people aged 15 or older reported that they used marijuana or hashish at least once in the year before the survey This shows that 12.2% of all Canadians either haveRead More Performance Enhancing Steroids in Major League Baseball Essay901 Words   |  4 PagesPerformance Enhancing Steroids in Major League Baseball The issue that our group is tackling is the use of illegal performance enhancing steroids in Major League Baseball. Major League Baseball is big business in the U.S., with 30 franchises valued at over 8.8 billion dollars. Player salaries range from the league minimum salary of three hundred twenty five thousand per year to ten million or more per year, and are based on the market value of each player when his current contract expires.Read MorePerformance Enhancing Drugs : Steroids, Androstenedione, And Ephedra Alkaloids996 Words   |  4 Pagesonly comes with status, but popularity and fame as well. The want and need to succeed in athletics has driven great athletes to take illegal measures to give themselves an edge over their competition. Performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids, androstenedione, and ephedra alkaloids are all used by athletes to take the shortcut to success and bypass all the hard work that success takes. Although performance enhancing drugs do enhan ce an athlete’s performance, at the same time they do moreRead MoreThe NFL and the Steroid Ban of 1987608 Words   |  2 Pagesquestion is â€Å"Why did the steroid ban of 1987 have no affect on the growing size and performance of linemen in the NFL?† The use of steroids in the NFL began in the 1960’s and came with a lot of controversy. As time progressed, more rumors and players came out about linemen using steroids to enhance their size. There have been a few linemen who have come out about their use of steroids such as Lyle Alzado, Tony Mandarich, and Steve Courson. The ineffectiveness of the steroid ban has resulted in theRead MoreSports Athletes Should Not Be Banned993 Words   |  4 Pagesonly comes with status, but popularity and fame as well. The want and need to succeed in athletics has driven great athletes to take illegal measures to give themselves an edge over their competition. Performance enhancing drugs such as anabolic steroids, androstenedio ne, and ephedra alkaloids are all used by athletes to take the shortcut to success and bypass all the hard work that success takes. Although performance enhancing drugs do enhance an athlete’s performance, at the same time they do moreRead MoreEffects of Adderall on Learning Essay1705 Words   |  7 PagesSteroids have for years been associated with cheating. Though long ago it was common practice for athletes and bodybuilders to use them in order to have an edge in order to become the best, that perception has fallen away along with the careers of many famous athletes. Today the negative connotation associated with using steroids is stronger than ever before. The most recent scandal involved the allegations that world famous cyclist Lance Armstrong, a seven time consecutive winner of the Tour de