Anabolic steroids are synthetic drugs that are either prescribed by doctors or abused at much higher doses to build muscle mass. While most people believe steroid abuse only impacts professional athletes, studies show it is prevalent among non-professional adult males, including those in occupations like law enforcement and the military. Steroids can be taken orally or through injection, and users may engage in practices like stacking or cycling different steroids. They provide benefits like increased strength and size but also serious health risks such as heart and kidney failure. Treatment options are limited and steroids can be addictive, though testing and penalties are not stringent for student and professional athletes.

1. Anabolic Steroids
The superhuman drug
Shane Gleim

2. Anabolic Steroids
• Anabolic Steroids could be prescribed by a doctor but those who abuse this
drug are usually using a dose 10 to 100 times the strength
• Anabolic refers to muscle building
• Androgenic refers and helps increase certain male characteristics
• Main difference between other drugs and steroids is, this is a synthetic drug
meaning it does not derive from a plant

3. Who Abuses Them?
• Most people believe that only professional athletes abuse Anabolic Steroids
• Recent studies show that steroid use isn’t a huge issue in high school and
college males and the media does not shed much light on these ages
• However, being both a high school and college athlete I have seen more than
my fair share of athletes juicing and it going unnoticed
• The media tends to focus more on the professional athletes even though a
recent study showed that of the 80% of abusers are non professional adult
males

4. Steroids in the Work Force
• Steroids have continued to increase in popularity, not only in athletes but to
the public as well
• A CBS news study shows that the most common abuser is a male around the
age of thirty, well educated, and earning an above average income
• Steroids have gained popularity in; Military, Law Enforcement, Firefighting,
etc
• These people have no intent of turning into a professional athlete but enjoy
the benefits of increased muscle mass, energy, and increased confidence

5. How they are used?
• Most common way to take Anabolic Steroids are either orally or to inject
themselves with a needle
• Less common way is to use a cream, gel, or patch directly on the skin
• Forms of use
• Stacking – Combining two or more steroids at the same time
• Cycling – Taking a dose at one time then taking a break and then restarting
• Pyramiding – Slowly increasing the dose or frequency, reaching a peak amount, and
then slowly weening themselves off

6. Positive Side Effects
• Improved recovery time
• Increased muscular size
• Reduce body fat
• Enhanced athletic performance
• Increased physical strength and endurance
• Increase in energy

7. Negative Side Effects
• Abnormal testosterone levels and aggression
• Eye damage
• Hair damage (baldness)
• Heart failure
• Kidney failure
• Development of breast in males (Gynecomastia)
• Facial hair in females
• Severe acne
• Testicular decrease and sperm count decrease
These are only a few negative side effects of the many that can occur

8. Treatment
• Steroids can be highly addictive, speaking from a personal experience I have
friends in high school who still cannot kick the habit
• If the user cannot stop themselves they may seek therapy
• There is limited treatment hence why steroids are so easily abused

9. Main Issue with Steroids and Athletes
• The main issue in my opinion with steroids and athletes is the testing conducted
• High school and college have some of the most lenient testing standards if you
even want to call it a standard
• They will only test if they see “reasonable cause” to do so but there have been
studies where adult men will add 30-50 pounds in a single year and that doesn’t
deem “reasonable cause”
• Professional leagues are not far from the college and high school testing standards.
If a player is caught they will get a fine and maybe a suspension but this only takes
place for a handful of athletes in leagues smothered with steroid use.

10. Your Stance on the Issue?
• Do you think our sports society has become to tolerant of steroid use?
• Do you think steroid use is as big as a problem or needs to be addressed
more in the public?

11. References
• "Effects of Steroids." - Positive and Negative Side Effects. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov.
2016.
• Https://www.facebook.com/NIDANIH. "Anabolic Steroids." DrugFacts:.
N.p., n.d. Web. 02 Nov. 2016.
• "Most Steroid Users Are Non-Athletes." CBSNews. CBS Interactive, n.d.
Web. 02 Nov. 2016.