WarriorFX

Our Magic Pill Society

“What can I use to lose fat and gain muscle?”

This is a common question at local supplement retailers. People flock in droves to find something to help combat the overwhelming obesity epidemic taking over many countries. They search for products promising wonders, hoping in due time they will deliver. Label claims can legally be challenged; unfortunately, the names of these wonder supplements have little regulating empty promises. While some supplements do assist in muscle building and fat burning, the main variable will always be the consumer’s lifestyle. No dietary supplement will ever take place of proper diet and conditioning - not even a performance enhancing drug (PED) like anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS).

Adolescents - Making the Cut by Uneducated, Impulsive Choices

“I must be accepted and be the best.”

A major problem exists amongst adolescents, especially those partaking in competitive sports: parental and peer pressure to be the very best. They strive to exceed everyone else and possibly grab a scholarship to a credible University. Teenagers that do not have access to good coaches and nutritionist will see the marketing hypes in favorite magazines and absorb the ridiculous claims as a way to get ahead. These marketing campaigns often use sports’ idols to lure them into buzzwords and empty promises. Then when the uneducated trainee finds the magic pills are not working like they did for their favorite athletic icon, they may look to jump into a more powerful, yet impulsive choice: anabolic-androgenic steroids.

This choice is usually outside any medical supervision or even parental notification. And unless a teenager is post-puberty the drawbacks can be disastrous. A child during puberty experiences natural changes in androgen levels to lead them into maturing as a properly virilized adult. This will lead to a deepening of the voice, increased body and pubic hair as well as increased musculature - a natural process that occurs without the anabolic drugs. Administering exogenous androgens during puberty can put a teen into a very unnatural environment since the body no longer has control - since endogenous androgens will be terminated by exogenous supra physiological doses. Performance-enhancing steroid cycles usually last eight to 12 weeks and increase blood androgen levels from three to 10 times normal levels. AAS-induced premature closure of growth plates will keep a teen from obtaining thier maximum height. Less tangible side effects can result in neural effects from a complicated puberty. No well-educated athlete would ever consider anabolic steroids prior to 21 years of age.

The other problem exists in an athlete’s training experience. A trainee using a PED needs to know more than simple athletic fundamentals. Advanced diet and training strategies are needed to maintain the additional development resulting from anabolic steroid cycles. Years of training will help an athlete better prepare connective tissue and expose known injury risks prior to periods of increased growth. All are fundamental to safe use and long-term results.

Adults - Searching for the Secret Training Variable for Quick Results

“I’m not getting any younger - I need something quick!”

In a culture of quick fixes and fast foods we can lose sight on what’s reasonable. Sure, microwaving dinner for a quick meal on the run saves time. But is it reasonable to expect human beings to make instant changes in body composition? The human body is a complex integration of numerous processes. Expecting to simply make a change to the endocrine system in favor of a more anabolic environment without proper research is what leads to destructive use. They are most effectively used as a respected supplement for a well-rounded athlete - not as a crutch to be used in irrational amounts by a previously inactive person.

Hormones are very powerful messengers and should be treated as such. Impulsive use by adults unfortunately is what often gets recognized by medical professionals and governing authorities. Having proper medical check ups and using reasonable doses is completely necessary and often ignored. There is a benefit-to-risk ration that can be a real fine line. Once protein synthesis and crossover binding to gluco-corticoids is optimized, further androgens in the body can lead to undesirable effects. Many factors determine what beneficial doses might be, such as lean body mass (receptor availability) and the concurrent training intensity.

Media Hype and Jargon

“People using steroids experience violent rages and have no hair!”

The media is a powerful tool persuading the masses. They will report news events to highlight key media targets. For example, a man killing two coworkers is big news, but a former Force Recon Marine killing two coworkers is even bigger news. In this case, a known steroid-using bodybuilder kills two coworkers. Now, what if a man miraculously saved two elderly ladies from becoming trampled by a speeding drunk driver? Would the headline ever read, “Steroid user saves two elderly women from disaster?” Probably not.

Does AAS lead to increased aggression or other widely related side effects? Studies do show an increase in internal hormones can lead to increased emotions and aggression - effects mediated by the administered hormone in addition to indirectly elevated hormones due to metabolic processes. Using AAS is not an excuse for irrational behavior and shouldn’t condone impulsive choices. If a person is prone to hair loss, they should avoid specific steroids with a potential to aggravate the issue. The same care should be taken for individuals with aggressive tendencies.

There are other media-related urban legends that are not really worth mentioning. One is the presumed side effect that AAS use will lead to shrinkage of the penis. But testosterone is actually responsible for the development of the male sex organ in the fetus. In addition, heavy androgen use by female athletes can increase the size of their respective sex organ; the clitoris. So, it’s more likely to cause a post-puberty increase the size of the man’s sex organ. Use can lead to shrinkage of the testes due to a shutdown of natural androgen levels, but this is widely known amongst AAS users to be a temporary effect. The testes return to normal size after exogenous androgen use is discontinued. The fact is the media often enjoys spreading news to simply raise eyebrows, frequently not based on medical fact but rather subjective opinions. And this is prevalent in their reports regarding PED use by athletes.

The Governments Biased Opinions

“Anabolic steroids should be scheduled like narcotics - but alcohol and cigarettes are okay.”

Many governments in the world today have controlled the production and distribution of anabolic steroids. Yet the reported deaths and injuries are far less than other substances. Cigarettes are a leading cause of cancer. They even impose a health risk to people subject to second hand smoke. Ephedrine was recently pulled off the market because of serious medical conditions from abuse, yet alcoholic-related drunk driving reports continue to prevail. AAS visits are very rare according to the emergency department trends from the Drug Abuse Warning Network. However, there is an enormous amount of emergency room visits for basic over-the-counter medications like Acetaminophen and Asprin. As well as prescription medication like Xanax and Prozac. Why does the government choose to regulate people interested in better human performance via performance enhancing drugs, yet comparatively ignore medications causing numerous deaths everyday?

Alcohol prohibitions in the United States lead to a major turning point in respect for local authorities. While demands exist, people will find a way to obtain what they want, sometimes resorting to an unpredictable black market. This fosters a society with discontent in their local legislature. Why not take the money spent on prosecuting successful athletes and spend it on educational programs to help people make informed decisions? Some sports authorities say no PED has a place in competitive games due to an unfair advantage. What dictates unfair advantage? Does an athlete’s ability to obtain premier coaches and successful nutritionist give him or her an unfair advantage? Some will say it imposes unwarranted health risks for competitors. What about the athletes with superior genetics - like naturally high androgen levels - is that unfair?

Abandoned by the Medical Community

“In 1935 we isolated the wonder hormone, testosterone - in 1990 the government regulated its use.”

Testosterone was first synthesized in 1935 and between 1948 and 1955 nearly a thousand derivatives and analogues were developed. The changes in the parent hormone were primarily in search for less androgenic (male-like) effects. Soon ethylated compounds were developed for oral availability. It was studied as a male contraceptive, as well as a treatment for hypogonadal men suffering from depression. Middle-aged men would also find a decrease in abdominal body fat during testosterone replacement therapy. In early research, studies showed that anabolic steroids dramatically increased anabolism as well as maintained or improved bone density. Further studies would reveal a substantial effect in treating wasting diseases; such as the AIDS wasting syndrome.

The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 added AAS to the federal schedule of controlled substances. This put increased measures on person who manufacture, distribute, or dispense anabolic-androgenic steroids; such as requiring them to register annually with the Attorney General. The added legal requirements and restrictions aided in separating the medical community and AAS users. They are much less likely to admit their use to physicians and because federal legislation has targeted physicians, few doctors want anything to do with athletes taking steroids. Physicians must be careful to avoid prosecution as a common drug dealer. And some doctors have been criminally prosecuted.

Conclusion

Are steroids getting unwarranted bad press? It is the opinion of this author and many current AAS users that they most certainly are. Some of the blame lies within the users themselves. In a black market driven culture, abusers will always exist. AAS abusers are the individuals who practice unsafe use and blame reckless choices on the drugs themselves - many times health concerns were preexisting and ignored.

Athletes do need to be advised that the general public is uneducated about these anabolic hormones and take care in the image their use portrays. The media, governing officials, medical professionals as well as irresponsible users also need to take heed before passing uninformed information on any PED.

Comments written by professional and recreational athletes speaking out about the 2004 FOX News special, “The Truth About Steroids”:

“You should tell kids why they shouldn’t use steroids - not because they will DIE, but rather that it can lead to stunted bone growth, and can permanently mess up their endocrine system. Kids are not stupid and saying they will DIE is a very false representation of the truth.” anonymous

“The public never hears about the millions of people all over the world who use steroids and never see any negative side effects from them. People only hear about the few hundred people who abuse steroids and get hurt, or get killed from them.” Paul

“The choice to use anabolic-androgenic steroids should be one made by the individual adult and not the government. Unfortunately, this choice has already been stripped from the individual. Now the government is going even a step further and working to illegalize prohormones and prosteroids (House Bill 3866). Does this make sense? Do adults need the government to be a big brother? Does America not have more imperative issues at hand?” Jo

“Steroid use is a lot safer then tobacco and alcohol, yet those drugs aren’t the target of the media like steroids are. You have to think about it through us steroid users’ eyes. Most if not all pro football players use steroids, wresters pro and WWE, basketball players, pro and amateur bodybuilders, and 75% of all people who workout for recreation. If they were as bad as you portray them, people would be dropping like flies all around you.” anonymous

“If you look at the hard facts, steroids can be used effectively and safely. Yes, they do pose a risk and can cause many bad side effects. However, the truth remains, responsible steroid use will usually cause no permanent side effects.” anonymous

“What I fail to understand is why healthy adults are unable to legally purchase things that will allow them to add a few pounds of muscle and feel better about themselves. Alcohol and tobacco yet remain perfectly legal. I am sure no one will argue that those two products have contributed to way more deaths than steroids ever will.” Mark

“When someone abuses anabolics and ignores common sense, then yes there is a heavy price to pay. Just as if someone smokes cigarettes and drinks alcohol (that can be purchased at the corner store) on a daily basis for a few years will end up paying a heavy price.” Erick

“Forget all that roid rage nonsense, it just isn’t factual. Alcohol and cigarettes kill way more than anabolics ever will.” Marc

“The ephedra scare was another flop by the FDA. Alcohol kills people and it’s legal, just like lung cancer-causing cigarettes. But who cares? Nobody. Say the word “steroid” and the MEDIA goes insane. Why is that?” anonymous