Recently, anabolic steroids, more properly called, anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAA's) have become a major concern in professional sports, and society in general. Steroids gained popularity, and came into the national spotlight after Canadian sprinter, Ben Johnson, tested positive for anabolic steroids at the 1988 Olympics. After being of his gold medal the uses and effects of anabolic steroids became widely known. Since then, many athletes have resorted to using performance enhancers, namely anabolic steroids, in order to triumph in competition. The uses and effects of anabolic steroids are imperative in studying professional sports, and athletic performance.
Anabolic steroids are regularly smuggled over the border. They are brought into the country from countries where AAS's are obtained over the counter without a prescription. This is a great epidemic because of the many health factors associated with steroid use. To help fight the increase in smuggling, and illegal trafficking of steroids, the United States government imposed the "Steroid Trafficking Act of 1990".
Various anabolic steroids. Author: Wikidudeman (ta...
Numerous vials of injectable anabolic steroids, wh...
Several large buckets of anabolic steroid vials co...This Act has four main functions. The first (1) function of the Act is to increase steroid trafficking penalties to match penalties for selling cocaine, and other dangerous drugs (Taylor, 576). The purpose of this is to scare off any potential dealers from selling AAS's by imposing tougher penalties. The second (2) function is to impose tight record keeping and production control regulation (Taylor, 576). The purpose of this is to prevent distribution of legally produced steroids into the illicit market. The third (3) function gives the DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) the authority and responsibility to investigate violations in the illegal production, and distribution of steroids(Taylor, 576). Basically, the purpose of this function is to deter potential mass producers of AAS's from distributing steroids to non-authorized consumers. The fourth (4) function of the Act requires agencies to incorporate steroids in...
More on adverse effects
Steroid abuse can lead to serious, even irreversible health problems. Some of the most dangerous among them include liver damage, jaundice (yellowish pigmentation of skin, tissues, and body fluids), fluid retention, high blood pressure, increases in LDL (bad cholesterol), and decreases in HDL (good cholesterol). Other reported effects include renal failure, severe acne, and trembling. In addition, there are some gender- and age-specific adverse effects:
For men—shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, increased risk for prostate cancer
For women—growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, deepened voice
For adolescents—stunted growth due to premature skeletal maturation and accelerated puberty changes; adolescents risk not reaching their expected height if they take AAS before the typical adolescent growth spurt
In addition, people who inject AAS run the added risk of contracting or transmitting HIV/AIDS or hepatitis, which causes serious damage to the liver.
Source; http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofacts/steroids.html
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