Dustin Kesselberg
Illuminator
- Joined
- Nov 30, 2004
- Messages
- 4,669
Anabolic steroids(like most illegal drugs) were made illegal due to ignorance and racism.
For the most part the demonization began in 1988 when an African American sprinter from Canada who beat out Americans tested postive for Anabolic Steroids. This event set out a chain reaction which resulted in what we see today; Ignorance of what Steroids even are and lies and nonsense concerning their side effects.
From the late 1980's until today Anabolic Steroids (In America) are scheduled as illegal substances and can only be obtained with a prescription from a doctor for an illness. During the political hearings that were deciding wether Anabolic Steroids should be criminalized, The American Medical Association and the DEA both opposed criminalizing Steroids on the basis they did not fit the criteria of being scheduled substances. However the political witchhunt had already begun and there was no turning back. Steroids were scheduled as controled substances.
Prior to this, Anabolic Steroids could be prescribed by a doctor by anyone who asked. This was the most logical thing because it prevented most of the problems commonly associated with Anabolic Steroids we see today. Doing things this way meant that people who should not be using Anabolic Steroids because they had high blood pressure or heart problems were not given Steroids. With things done this way a doctor could monitor your vitals to determine how the Steroids are working on you and to determine if your blood pressure or cholesterol levels are getting too high as well as liver values.
Currently with AAS outlawed to most people who want to use it to gain muscle, There is a "black market" surrounding them which itself is rife with counterfeit steroids that are very dangerous. Many have died because of these counterfiet steroids. Currently someone wanting to use Steroids would get them illegally and then use them illegally without supervision. They could easily be getting higher cholesterol or blood pressure and not even know it because they were never told the truth by a doctor about the real side effects of steroids. This is what causes most of the problems associated with Steroids we see today. Lack of medical supervision which could be attained if Steroids were descheduled and prescribed to anyone who wants to use and is healthy enough. This would effectivly eleminate the black market around steroids preventing anyone else from using without a doctor supervising.
Anabolic Steroids have been linked(Baselessly) to alot of problems which the scientific studies simply don't support.
-Roid Rage, This is about as scientifically supported as "marijuana madness". We hear all about "roid rage" in the media but to those who are around real steroid users..It's just a big myth. Many studies have shown that most people who do use steroids do not experience any increased aggression. Yet the myth is still spread by the uneducated media.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8969015&dopt=Abstract
-Cancer, Anabolic Steroids have also been linked to numerous types of Cancer. Despite the fact that no credible studies prove a link between mild use of Anabolic Steroids and any type of cancer and despite the fact that the most famous example of steroids causing cancer was an outright lie(The baseball player we've all heard about dying from braincancer supposedly caused by his steroid use). The doctors of this player said themselves there was absolutely no evidence steroids played any role in his illness.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=91848&dopt=Abstract
-Kidney & Liver damage, Steroids are also linked to liver damage and kidney damage. Despite the fact that again...No credible studies show a link between "moderate" steroid use and kidney damage and despite the fact that steroids are dosed to cancer or aids patients at extremly high doses without any damage..We still see this claim in the media. Though very high doses of oral steroids have been linked to mild hepatotoxicity, Injected steroids haven't. Also any damage can be minimized by "cycling" the steroids which means using them in durations of several weeks and then discontinuing use to allow the liver to recover.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1917227&dopt=Abstract
-Testical shrinkage, Anabolic steroids can shrink your testicles however this is only because of the chemistry of your body and the size of your testicles go back to normal within a few weeks after you discontinue use. The reason this happens is because your testes usually produce the testosterone for your body. However when taken from steroids your testicals stop producing testosterone because your body already has enough of it. This causes testical shrinkage. Once steroids are stopped...Their size returns to normal.
Generally the amount they shrink isn't even noticable.
-Gynecomastia/Male Breasts, Anabolic sterois can also cause "gyno" otherwise known as male breasts. The reason this happens is because when testosterone is introduced into your body, It naturally converts into estrogen like molecules. This process is called aromatization. Testerosterone(An androgen) always naturally converts into estrogen like molecules. However this can be prevented easily by taking another type of drug called "estrogen blockers" such as armotase inhibitors or selelective estrogen receptor modulators. This can effectivly prevent formation of male breasts completly.
Basically there aren't any credible studies proving moderate use of Steroids by healthy adult males causes any long term deadly side effects.
Anabolic Steroids are also linked to many fallacies that are comited when answers about their legalization are presented.
1.Steroids are illegal because they are dangerous.
This is the most absurd answer ever given. Substances are NOT scheduled because they are "dangerous" otherwise marijuana would be legal and tobacco illegal. If substances are made illegal because they are simply dangerous..Why then is alcohol and tobacco legal?
2.Steroids are illegal because it isn't fair.
Fair to whom? Obviously steroids should be outlawed in sports but should they be outlawed to the average joe who wants to use them to gain that extra muscle that he can't gain from lifting due to his limited genetics? Definitily not.
3.Steroids should be made illegal because children might use them.
This also makes absolutely no sense. The only reason Steroids are being used by high school students is because they are illegal. If they were legal there would be no black market around them. Meaning the only place to get them would be from a doctor. Meaning the doctor would not prescribe them to anyone under 18 or anyone known to be in any competitive sports.
In conclusion...
Anabolic steroids were only criminalized due to pseudo science and racism. If descheduled, the "steroid black market" would completly dissappear resulting in the deaths that do exist from steroids vanishing in a heart beat. The deaths from using them incorrectly or from getting "fake steroids". If monitored by a doctor they could be administered safely. Anabolic steroids are demonized and lied about almost constantly by the media. Although no credible studies prove steroids(if used correctly) cause deadly long term problems..The media still claims they do. Anytime steroids are mentioned we only hear about the side that is against their use and never the side that supports steroids. If this isn't one sided and bias I don't know what is. When was the last time you saw a media outlet present steroids in a light that didn't completly demonize them? Probably never.
This type of bias reporting would lead you to believe there is no other side and that the science behind steroids being deadly and dangerous in all accounts is 100%. But trust me...It isn't! There is definitly a side that knows steroids can be safe if used correctly and can be very benefitial.
For the most part the demonization began in 1988 when an African American sprinter from Canada who beat out Americans tested postive for Anabolic Steroids. This event set out a chain reaction which resulted in what we see today; Ignorance of what Steroids even are and lies and nonsense concerning their side effects.
From the late 1980's until today Anabolic Steroids (In America) are scheduled as illegal substances and can only be obtained with a prescription from a doctor for an illness. During the political hearings that were deciding wether Anabolic Steroids should be criminalized, The American Medical Association and the DEA both opposed criminalizing Steroids on the basis they did not fit the criteria of being scheduled substances. However the political witchhunt had already begun and there was no turning back. Steroids were scheduled as controled substances.
Prior to this, Anabolic Steroids could be prescribed by a doctor by anyone who asked. This was the most logical thing because it prevented most of the problems commonly associated with Anabolic Steroids we see today. Doing things this way meant that people who should not be using Anabolic Steroids because they had high blood pressure or heart problems were not given Steroids. With things done this way a doctor could monitor your vitals to determine how the Steroids are working on you and to determine if your blood pressure or cholesterol levels are getting too high as well as liver values.
Currently with AAS outlawed to most people who want to use it to gain muscle, There is a "black market" surrounding them which itself is rife with counterfeit steroids that are very dangerous. Many have died because of these counterfiet steroids. Currently someone wanting to use Steroids would get them illegally and then use them illegally without supervision. They could easily be getting higher cholesterol or blood pressure and not even know it because they were never told the truth by a doctor about the real side effects of steroids. This is what causes most of the problems associated with Steroids we see today. Lack of medical supervision which could be attained if Steroids were descheduled and prescribed to anyone who wants to use and is healthy enough. This would effectivly eleminate the black market around steroids preventing anyone else from using without a doctor supervising.
Anabolic Steroids have been linked(Baselessly) to alot of problems which the scientific studies simply don't support.
-Roid Rage, This is about as scientifically supported as "marijuana madness". We hear all about "roid rage" in the media but to those who are around real steroid users..It's just a big myth. Many studies have shown that most people who do use steroids do not experience any increased aggression. Yet the myth is still spread by the uneducated media.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=8969015&dopt=Abstract
-Cancer, Anabolic Steroids have also been linked to numerous types of Cancer. Despite the fact that no credible studies prove a link between mild use of Anabolic Steroids and any type of cancer and despite the fact that the most famous example of steroids causing cancer was an outright lie(The baseball player we've all heard about dying from braincancer supposedly caused by his steroid use). The doctors of this player said themselves there was absolutely no evidence steroids played any role in his illness.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=91848&dopt=Abstract
-Kidney & Liver damage, Steroids are also linked to liver damage and kidney damage. Despite the fact that again...No credible studies show a link between "moderate" steroid use and kidney damage and despite the fact that steroids are dosed to cancer or aids patients at extremly high doses without any damage..We still see this claim in the media. Though very high doses of oral steroids have been linked to mild hepatotoxicity, Injected steroids haven't. Also any damage can be minimized by "cycling" the steroids which means using them in durations of several weeks and then discontinuing use to allow the liver to recover.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?cmd=Retrieve&db=PubMed&list_uids=1917227&dopt=Abstract
-Testical shrinkage, Anabolic steroids can shrink your testicles however this is only because of the chemistry of your body and the size of your testicles go back to normal within a few weeks after you discontinue use. The reason this happens is because your testes usually produce the testosterone for your body. However when taken from steroids your testicals stop producing testosterone because your body already has enough of it. This causes testical shrinkage. Once steroids are stopped...Their size returns to normal.
Generally the amount they shrink isn't even noticable.
-Gynecomastia/Male Breasts, Anabolic sterois can also cause "gyno" otherwise known as male breasts. The reason this happens is because when testosterone is introduced into your body, It naturally converts into estrogen like molecules. This process is called aromatization. Testerosterone(An androgen) always naturally converts into estrogen like molecules. However this can be prevented easily by taking another type of drug called "estrogen blockers" such as armotase inhibitors or selelective estrogen receptor modulators. This can effectivly prevent formation of male breasts completly.
Basically there aren't any credible studies proving moderate use of Steroids by healthy adult males causes any long term deadly side effects.
Anabolic Steroids are also linked to many fallacies that are comited when answers about their legalization are presented.
1.Steroids are illegal because they are dangerous.
This is the most absurd answer ever given. Substances are NOT scheduled because they are "dangerous" otherwise marijuana would be legal and tobacco illegal. If substances are made illegal because they are simply dangerous..Why then is alcohol and tobacco legal?
2.Steroids are illegal because it isn't fair.
Fair to whom? Obviously steroids should be outlawed in sports but should they be outlawed to the average joe who wants to use them to gain that extra muscle that he can't gain from lifting due to his limited genetics? Definitily not.
3.Steroids should be made illegal because children might use them.
This also makes absolutely no sense. The only reason Steroids are being used by high school students is because they are illegal. If they were legal there would be no black market around them. Meaning the only place to get them would be from a doctor. Meaning the doctor would not prescribe them to anyone under 18 or anyone known to be in any competitive sports.
In conclusion...
Anabolic steroids were only criminalized due to pseudo science and racism. If descheduled, the "steroid black market" would completly dissappear resulting in the deaths that do exist from steroids vanishing in a heart beat. The deaths from using them incorrectly or from getting "fake steroids". If monitored by a doctor they could be administered safely. Anabolic steroids are demonized and lied about almost constantly by the media. Although no credible studies prove steroids(if used correctly) cause deadly long term problems..The media still claims they do. Anytime steroids are mentioned we only hear about the side that is against their use and never the side that supports steroids. If this isn't one sided and bias I don't know what is. When was the last time you saw a media outlet present steroids in a light that didn't completly demonize them? Probably never.
This type of bias reporting would lead you to believe there is no other side and that the science behind steroids being deadly and dangerous in all accounts is 100%. But trust me...It isn't! There is definitly a side that knows steroids can be safe if used correctly and can be very benefitial.