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Michael Downs

English 4

Ms. Mantlo

January, 26, 2017

Steroids have always been around and they are a controversial issue in today's news.

People take steroids for the benefits they can provide but the cons of steroids out way the

benefits. Steroids negatively impact health. Steroids can shorten the lifespan of your career and

maybe even shorten your life in general. Steroids should not be legalized because of the many

issues they can cause such as social issues and health issues. It can negatively affect your life.

Some athletes would argue that steroids enhance their ability to complete a task or sport.

Although this may be true, often times athletes abuse steroids in such a way that it could be

considered cheating the sport. There is no question that the use of steroids can threaten an

athlete's career and reputation, and attach a stigma to their respective sport, yet many

professionals continue to use them to boost muscle mass(Whittaker). Athletes who are found to

be on any kind of steroid drug are often times fined, suspended, or exempted from playing the

sport professionally. Jose Canseco, a professional baseball player, came out in 2005 about using

steroids. He also wrote a book about his steroid usage and stated he regretted his decisions

because it affected his life financially, mentally, and physically.

The number one effect in my opinion is the health risk and concerns with taking steroids.

The damage they do to the inside of your body can last short term and long term. Most of the

internal side effects start as short term effects but with continuous use, steroid effects term into

long term. The most body damaging effect deals with the liver kidney and heart. An elevated
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risk for liver tumors, damage, hepatocellular adenomas, and peliosis hepatitis are often

associated with anabolic steroid use or abuse (Jay). The liver, when taking steroids, gets

confused and starts to fight itself. The liver's job is to make proteins to prevent blood clotting.

When steroids enter the liver they start to mess up the production of proteins causing the liver to

slow down and create blood clots. A less severe side effect is short temper/bad behavior. Many

trends you see with people taking steroids is their mood is always edgy, meaning they do not

have high tolerance for different situations which could lead to poor choices and violent actions.

Steroids are manufactured often times in people's homes. Steroids are made in other

countries and shipped illegally in the United States. The potency, purity and strength of the

steroids produced this way are not regulated, and therefore it is almost impossible for users to

know how much they are taking (Mishra). When people are unaware of what they are taking

and the dosage amount they take it can cause sudden death by OD and lifelong damaging effects.

Conterift steroids have now started being sold more often and people who think they are getting

what they pay for are just getting a product made from who knows what and could possibly kill

you.

Steroids are not the risk worth taking. They can mentally and physically damage you in

very severe ways. Things that could lead from bad acne to health issues with your liver that

could leave you in a hospital bed. Athletes who have taken steroids will often tell you that it was

not worth the risk and they regret their decision. l. Steroids should not be legalized because of

the many issues they can cause such as social issues and health issues. It can negatively affect

your life.
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Works Cited

Jay R. Hoffman, Nicholas A. Ratamess, (2006) Medical Issues Associated with Anabolic Steroid

Use: Are They Exaggerated?. Journal of Sports Science and Medicine (05), 182 - 193

Mishra, R. "Steroids and Sports Are a Losing Proposition. (Cover Story)." FDA Consumer, vol.

25, no. 7, Sept. 1991, p. 24. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?

direct=true&db=f5h&AN=9110141893&site=eds-live&authtype=uid.

Whittaker, Anne, and Rosalyn Carson-Dewitt. "Point: Performance Enhancing Drugs Should Be

Legalized." Points Of View: Steroids (2016): 2. Points of View Reference Center. Web.

22 Feb. 2017.