The Consequences Of Anabolic Steroids

Improved Essays
High school sports are competitive and big parts of teenagers lives. Because of the constant stress levels off the sports and pressures to be the best, teens are hastily venturing into the world of anabolic steroids to gain an edge on their performance without thinking of the consequences. There are two different views when it comes to the issue of high school athletes using anabolic steroids. The first is, all high school athletes should be tested for anabolic steroids due to the health risks involved. The second viewpoint is that; High school students shouldn’t be tested for anabolic steroids due to the fact that testing is too expensive and ineffective.
Anabolic steroids are man-made synthetic testosterone. It is prescribed to treat delayed
…show more content…
Studies have shown that steroids lead to higher levels of anger and violence, paranoia, and depression. Steroids lead to the thickening of the left ventricle in the heart which can later lead to various heart problems. Also if high school teens use steroids it can lead to the closing of the growth plate causing stunted growth. Growth plates are zones of cartilage at the end of our long bones, once these close over and join together it means that our bodies stop growing. Anabolic steroids lead the premature closing of the growth plates. There are other side effects such as increased risk of cancer, Feminization, Masculinisation, Kidney problems and liver …show more content…
Shows amount of steroid use among High school teenagers
Students also do not know the problems which come with the use of anabolic steroids. The biggest problems for teen athletes using steroids as mentioned above is the premature closing of the growth plate. This is a growth defect which can cause stunted growth within teenagers. Also as mentioned above before the cardiovascular problems, liver problems, and emotional and psychological problems which can be detrimental to teenagers, and to their adult life. This is why high school teenagers should be tested for anabolic steroids. It’s better to test now than to let the problem grow into an epidemic.
The second viewpoint is testing high school athletes for anabolic steroids is too expensive and ineffective. As mentioned before only 2-3% of high school students admitted to using anabolic steroids within their life. This is a small and dismal amount. We can also see from previous mass testing that it is too expensive and ineffective. In 2008 in Texas 6 million dollars was spent on testing high school teens for anabolic steroids. After 50,000 tests were conducted less than 20 came up positive. With tests costing around 100$ per student the government stopped the idea for testing high school athletes for anabolic steroids. There are more concerning drugs used within high schools such as marijuana and Adderall which are bigger and more used drugs. Testing for these kinds of drugs would yield a higher success rate of stopping

Related Documents

  • Improved Essays

    Steroid Abuse In Society

    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages

    With the use of steroids rising amongst teenagers, so are the deaths and dramatic negative side effects that follow. All the risks that are associated with anabolic steroid use are deteriorating teen bodies, minds, and train of thought. People who use steroids for just ⅕ of their lives will die a quicker death than those who don’t and if teens do not comprehend this, it could cause a fatal consequence (“Why Do People Abuse Anabolic Steroids”). These issues connected with the use of anabolic steroids are going to continue unless direct action is taken to prevent more teen athletes to go down the wrong path of life. The way teen athletes make their decisions needs to change, but society needs to change…

    • 644 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    High School athletes having drug tests Having drug tests can change the lives of millions of high school athletes by making sure they don 't have an advantage in the game and mainly getting hurt. High school athletes having drug tests would help change schools by how the drug use for athletes will decrease and grades get higher. This would make sure athletes not have an unfair advantage in the game which can cause a risk of injury. Also can cause some major health problems. High school athletes should get drug tested to make sure they are not taking any drugs or other kinds of steroids.…

    • 1220 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Studies show if a student had used marijuana 24 hours prior to learning, they will have an issue paying attention, and will be unable to memorize what they have learned (“Marijuana Myths & Facts”). Popular health issues are caused by reason of an abuse of marijuana and what nobody can seem to understand is that marijuana is extremely dangerous. The people who use it either have poor judgment, or truly do not know the outcome of abusing this drug. “Porter claims that research shows young people are particularly vulnerable to lung and brain damage. Porter contends that other research also suggests marijuana may harm the bones, impact sexual function, and increase risk of testicular cancer.” (12).…

    • 1008 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    While doing this it may cause their child to turn to drugs to try and have their parents be happy with their performance and appearance (Mayo Clinic Staff). Parents don’t know when to stop pushing their children in sport because making their teen’s think they need to turn to performance enhancing drugs was the wrong move. This could turn the teen into a full time user and therefore they were trying to make their kids better but they hurt their health because of the long lasting side effects that the drugs have. Also if their teen begins to use the drugs and are caught that means they could have just ruined a promising career (Fitzhugh 17). If a teen is caught using these drugs and colleges find out about it that will turn the…

    • 1991 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Superior Essays

    The negative effects of abstinence-only sex education and why it should lose federal funding Conner Siems Westview High School There are many tests that high schoolers wish to pass, but there is one that nearly all of them hope turns out negative. The results of the classic pregnancy test, as stressful as any final or midterm, bring either extreme relief or powerful emotions of fear and sadness to teenagers. Sadly, there are government-sponsored programs that inadvertently cause more young women to pass this upside-down examination. Abstinence-only sex education programs are almost completely ineffective at achieving their goal of getting students to abstain from sex until marriage. Without proper safe sex education, sexually…

    • 2087 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Superior Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Drug testing middle school students should be done, but not just drug testing middle school students should be done, drug testing all teens should be required. Many people disagree about middle school students being drug tested because they feel as if they wouldn't be doing drug. Well I think drug testing them should be done because drugs can easily lead to depression, and depression can lead to bigger and more serious things,for example suicidal thoughts.Someone stated, “It happens, and can even lead to thoughts of suicide.” According to this piece of textual evidence it is explain that drugs can leave you down and depress to where you get to the stage of thinking of suicidal actions. This is another reason why students/teens should be drug tested so that they won't be lead in the direction of suicide actions by the drugs they are involved…

    • 666 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    According to Dr. Wadler, anabolic steroids can cause diseases among human race, on one hand, males may suffer from breast growth, shrinking of testicles and low sperm count/infertility which make them unable to have children. On the other hand, Females will experience some serious health problems like voice deepening, growth of facial hair and male pattern baldness (ESPN…

    • 1488 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Some bad things about steroids is acene, they give you massive mood swings, aggressive behavior, high blood pressure, heightened sex characteristics, and liver damage. (“Steroid Use Among High School Athletes”). Sometimes I thought about taking steroids but then again I thought about how much it could harm me. The rate of steroids use for females playing high school basketball is 8.8 percent (“Are Students Taking Steroids”). In order to stop steroid use, coaches and parents must talk to their children early on about the effects.…

    • 668 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Improved Essays

    Programs need to be placed in high schools regarding the numerous and extreme negative effects these drugs can have on all types of users. If high schoolers are informed that one day they could have trouble starting a family or could increase their risk of cardiovascular disease, then just maybe this will stop a few young adults from partaking in an illegal activity that can affect the rest of their…

    • 1727 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Improved Essays
  • Decent Essays

    The government had three high school texas,illinois and new jersey. In one case taylor hooton 17 of plano texas killed himself because he did not want to get caught doing drugs. The only thing about drug test are that there are expensive also they can easily be rigged. Drug test can easily be rigged because the person could use someone else's pee.Also each drug test cost around $110 that is money they could be put to better use. I think that we should have drug test on students athletes if the players did not do drugs then they should have nothing to worry about a thing.…

    • 332 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Decent Essays