The use of steroids to gain muscle mass is quick and effective, but it has some serious negative effects as well. Steroid use is more common than most people think. Weight lifters and other athletes use them to gain strength very quickly, but after they stop using them and lose some strength, they become trapped in the steroid cycle.
.
First, the benefits of steroids are very plain to see. The user gains mass, speed, and strength very quickly. Also, he has a more aggressive attitude, which is good for many athletes, especially football players. A weight lifter can gain the strength and mass he wants without having to work as hard as natural body builders do and he can get ready for competitions in a much shorter time. A lot of people do not see anything wrong with steroids because the body already produces testosterone; therefore steroids just increase the amount.
.
Next, steroids have serious and sometimes long-term effects that can be life threatening. Federal officials reported that one to three million people in the United States is now using anabolic steroids (Mader 410). Many users have acne problems and dramatic mood swings. Also, they have a more violent demeanor, which can, in some cases cause heart attacks. As stated in The Steroid Game, "roid rage is the descriptive term for spontaneous, highly aggressive, out-of-control behavior where the police were called or should have intervened" (Yesalis 60). Infertility is another risk users take. It can destroy the chances of ever producing children. .
.
Steroids are illegal and users are not allowed to compete in any kind of competition. For example, Ben Johnson won the gold medal in the 100-meter dash in the Olympics, but after testing positive for steroids; he was stripped of his medal. .
.
The main reason for using anabolic steroids is unwillingness to put forth the effort to build mass and strength, and even then it is not acceptable. In conclusion, while steroids make the users look good very quickly; the long-term dangers and effects outweigh the short-term benefits.
