. These may not be euphoria, as experienced with heroin and cocaine, however the state of mind is improved while on the drug and users can experience a withdrawal when they cease consumption. These symptoms include fatigue, depression, insomnia, loss of appetite and headaches. Individuals develop a compulsive reliance to steroids, and, in the midst of being cognizant of the negative effects it qualifies them as drug dependent. The feelings experienced while taking steroids make them addictive in nature, but the consequences make them an extremely debilitating drug. Several studies have been carried out in recent years to determine specifically what physical and psychological affects long term AAS usage has (Brower 2010).
In 2009, an observational …show more content…
The study by Folke (2008) also examined the cultures surrounding some of the most competitive high school sports in the United States, and found that in some cases, coaching staff and even school administration are encouraging and sometimes facilitating illegal steroid usage in their respective establishments. This increased accessibility to these drugs has greatly increased the prevalence of mental instability among these young athletes. Now, more than ever as a society, we are sensitive to mental health, stress, depression and other ailments in our youth, however steroid usage feeds right into the heart of many of these issues. Steroid usage, even when acute, has been shown to increase clinical depression, anger, vigor and mood disturbance among all users. However, when this sample size is narrowed to individuals under the age of 18, the prevalence of these conditions can be increased up to five fold (Burnett, 1994). One would reasonably conclude that high school students are under enough stress and mental pressure in modern society that the added instability resulting from steroid usage is illicitly immoral in nature, especially when it is being encouraged by …show more content…
However, there is a clear double standard when dealing with cheating, or taking short cuts, no matter what facet of life is being dealt with. For instance, who’s to say that a Major League Baseball pitcher should not take steroids to increase his performance, when a magazine model is digitally retouched countless times for perfection, or when Wall Street number crunchers consume copious amounts of Adderall to remain focused throughout the day? These are societal issues that do not limit themselves to the world of sports. Miller (2013) examined the longitudinal psychological effects of cheating, and the results were fairly astounding. Cheating, when not associated with any other mental condition (such as depression, bipolar disorder, ect) resulted in numerous cases of mental transgression, repeat offenses, feelings of invincibility, downplaying other individual’s achievements and increased narcissistic behavior (Miller, 2013). Essentially, these individuals believe that they are better than other’s because not only have they gained an edge on their peers in whichever activity they were competing in, but because they were able to undermine the system, and they were able to get away with it. This type of mentality is very contagious and is the root for the problem that is steroid usage in the United
In 2009, an observational …show more content…
The study by Folke (2008) also examined the cultures surrounding some of the most competitive high school sports in the United States, and found that in some cases, coaching staff and even school administration are encouraging and sometimes facilitating illegal steroid usage in their respective establishments. This increased accessibility to these drugs has greatly increased the prevalence of mental instability among these young athletes. Now, more than ever as a society, we are sensitive to mental health, stress, depression and other ailments in our youth, however steroid usage feeds right into the heart of many of these issues. Steroid usage, even when acute, has been shown to increase clinical depression, anger, vigor and mood disturbance among all users. However, when this sample size is narrowed to individuals under the age of 18, the prevalence of these conditions can be increased up to five fold (Burnett, 1994). One would reasonably conclude that high school students are under enough stress and mental pressure in modern society that the added instability resulting from steroid usage is illicitly immoral in nature, especially when it is being encouraged by …show more content…
However, there is a clear double standard when dealing with cheating, or taking short cuts, no matter what facet of life is being dealt with. For instance, who’s to say that a Major League Baseball pitcher should not take steroids to increase his performance, when a magazine model is digitally retouched countless times for perfection, or when Wall Street number crunchers consume copious amounts of Adderall to remain focused throughout the day? These are societal issues that do not limit themselves to the world of sports. Miller (2013) examined the longitudinal psychological effects of cheating, and the results were fairly astounding. Cheating, when not associated with any other mental condition (such as depression, bipolar disorder, ect) resulted in numerous cases of mental transgression, repeat offenses, feelings of invincibility, downplaying other individual’s achievements and increased narcissistic behavior (Miller, 2013). Essentially, these individuals believe that they are better than other’s because not only have they gained an edge on their peers in whichever activity they were competing in, but because they were able to undermine the system, and they were able to get away with it. This type of mentality is very contagious and is the root for the problem that is steroid usage in the United