Our group chose steroids because of its longtime popularity among athletes and the such, and our soul goal is to inform the class on its composition, effects, and some statistics on who takes and under what circumstances these drugs are taken. Anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone. The full name is androgenic anabolic steroids meaning "promoting masculine characteristics, building, drugs". Unlike other drugs, steroids are usually taken for somewhat of a positive reason. The consumer wants to better themself so they can perform at the maximum level, showing their willingness to take advantage of any edge they can get their hands on. But, like other controlled substances and narcotics, steroids are detrimental to the body, and the temporary edge that is given is payed back in double when the side effects kick in.

The roots of steroids date all the way back to World War II, when German soldiers were given the drug to increase their size and aggression. Medically, the anabolic steroid is used to increase body tissue. It also prevents the breakdown of tissue which certain diseases may cause. Certain steroids may also be used in some types of allergy medications. These are some of the few positive uses of the drug.

In the most part, these substances are used illegally. Over 80% of anabolic steroids are sold illegally throughout the black market. The main consumers are men, yet women occasionally do take them. Intake in women is less because the masculine features brought about by the hormone are usually more evident. Anabolic steroids are deratives of the male hormone testosterone. The deratives promote growth of the skeletal muscle and increase lean body mass. Abusers take them typically in cycles of weeks or months, other than continuously, in a pattern called cycling. Unlike in the past, a new use of steroids has come about. Men are taking them to supposedly better their looks (non-muscle related). I find this quite baffling in the sense that some of the most common side effects are : acne, baldness, development of breasts, and a shrinking of the testicles.

The main causes for people to start steroid use are peer pressure, belief that it will improve athletic performance, and the belief that the competition uses steroids. Racially speaking, in 1993, 2.1% of whites and Hispanics, and 1.3% of blacks had used steroids. There are many street names for the substance, but the most current include roids, sauce, and slop. It can be taken orally or injected.

In recent news, there has been controversy over the use of steroids in athletics. The substance Mark McGuire uses known to the layman as andro, is in fact anabolic, thus further proving it is a steroid. Although it is legal, it is still an anabolic steroid, and the question surmounts whether he really deserves all of the fame he is getting. There are alternates to steroids including the most recent rage know an creatine. Also in national news, the great Florence Joyner-Kersee died recently, and the question came about if her death was an after effect of drug use earlier in her life. As of my current knowledge, nothing has been proven or disproven except for the fact that she was clean when she ran in the Olympics. On the local scene at Tracy High School, more kids are getting into an illegal drug known as ghb, and there was almost a serious problem as a boy fell comatose.

Steroids can be pretty much easily obtained in our society, but it is our judgement call to decide whether we want to ruin our lives or not. With women, its an easy decision because your deciding between looking like a man or not. But with men, the question to contemplate is this, "Is a few weeks of extra energy worth a lifetime of hard work and potential down the drain?"