Anabolic Steroids: A Discussion

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  • soliddreams
    soliddreams Posts: 37
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    People who say "steroids shouldnt be allowed because then you'd have to take them to catch up to everyone else!" don't seem to understand that, I would reckon, 95% of the athletes (pro level, I'm speaking) are taking steroids. Just because you take steroids doesn't mean you're going to turn into a beef cake, but it will let you recover from extremely grueling workouts and games much faster. The people who started taking them were actually the track athletes in the olympics. Europeans were like "guys, you gotta try this!" when the Americans came over, and here we are now.

    The problem is that everyone likes to say that steroids gives an "unfair advantage" to people. But if you sit here and go "but wait, if everyones taking them..." then again, someone like Barry Bonds is winning just through natural talent. It doesnt matter how much Tren he has going through his body.

    Celebrities and a lot of people use HGH (look at The Rock, Christian Bale, Halle Berry etc) to stay young and look slim. It's just a fact that if you can take it and not get caught, then people are going to take it to keep from being phased out.

    As to the side effects, steroids have a lot of different auxiliary supplements that will make it so that you can neutralize almost all of them, and with blood work and check ups you can control the heart problems. Half the time the heart attacks etc comes from something else, like a genetic disorder or other drugs (Zyzzz didnt die from taking steroids, he died from taking cocaine and having a heart attack.)

    I work out at a "hardcore" gym, and I know that 97% or so of the people who work out there are juicing. Do I judge them because they are? No.

    Steroids are illegal because pharmacies want us to buy their products instead, is my thinking, much like with pot and the cigarette companies.
  • ironanimal
    ironanimal Posts: 5,922 Member
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    So long as people can smoke (cigarettes/weed/whatever) and drink alcohol, I don't see why they should be illegal. The health risks are on par or less than the aforementioned if used properly, and present far lower risk to people around them.
  • db0255
    db0255 Posts: 3 Member
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    I think Anabolic Steroids are illegal for the same reason a lot of other drugs are. Their side effects are more serious than others, and they can be abused. And I don't mean abused like cocaine, perhaps are habit-forming.

    If they were legalized, would they be a menace to society? Probably not. But then again drug prohibition is so political anyway.

    Should we have a dichotomy between "natural" and "unnatural" substances? Creatine, nitric oxide, and testosterone are all found in the body naturally. It doesn't really matter whether something is natural or not. It's all chemicals once in the body.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
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    My viewpoint is simply - legal or not - where is the pride in building muscle mass via steriods. Building real strength by natural means does more for the self esteem in addition to knowing what you have built physically is yours and by your own efforts.

    If there was a drug that would enable me to kick into a handstand easily, rather than face the fear of going upside down, the strength I need to build to hold a stable pose and the hours of dedication to the practice, I wouldn't take it - legal or no. Some things mean more when they are honestly earned.
    And some of us don't have the time to fit everything we want in to life.

    There's plenty of things I'd love to take 'short cuts' to if I could cheaply and safely; so I could go on and do more things I enjoy.

    It's not always the body condition that's the end product people aim for, but rather what you can enjoy with said body condition.
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
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    As to the side effects, steroids have a lot of different auxiliary supplements that will make it so that you can neutralize almost all of them, and with blood work and check ups you can control the heart problems.

    I think that is my reason for feeling they should be illegal then as a lot of amateur trainers will not be using those auxillary supplements, affording or having access to the steroids only and suffering health conditions as a result.
  • soliddreams
    soliddreams Posts: 37
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    As to the side effects, steroids have a lot of different auxiliary supplements that will make it so that you can neutralize almost all of them, and with blood work and check ups you can control the heart problems.

    I think that is my reason for feeling they should be illegal then as a lot of amateur trainers will not be using those auxillary supplements, affording or having access to the steroids only and suffering health conditions as a result.

    I understand that, but at the same time, I know that you can get a 6 week supply of whatever you need for about the same amount as the multi/protein/fat burner that people keep using.

    I would actually put fat burners about as dangerous as steroids, a lot of companies don't really know what they're doing so they're throwing a ton of crap in, and then people are having heart problems.
  • Yogi_Carl
    Yogi_Carl Posts: 1,906 Member
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    My viewpoint is simply - legal or not - where is the pride in building muscle mass via steriods. Building real strength by natural means does more for the self esteem in addition to knowing what you have built physically is yours and by your own efforts.

    If there was a drug that would enable me to kick into a handstand easily, rather than face the fear of going upside down, the strength I need to build to hold a stable pose and the hours of dedication to the practice, I wouldn't take it - legal or no. Some things mean more when they are honestly earned.
    And some of us don't have the time to fit everything we want in to life.

    There's plenty of things I'd love to take 'short cuts' to if I could cheaply and safely; so I could go on and do more things I enjoy.

    It's not always the body condition that's the end product people aim for, but rather what you can enjoy with said body condition.

    Just to clarify - are you saying that the use of steroids would enable your body to recover and repair/grow quicker so you could go out and enjoy more things you enjoy? I'm not sure what you meant, but it's an interesting point.
  • victoria4321
    victoria4321 Posts: 1,719 Member
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    As to the side effects, steroids have a lot of different auxiliary supplements that will make it so that you can neutralize almost all of them, and with blood work and check ups you can control the heart problems.

    I think that is my reason for feeling they should be illegal then as a lot of amateur trainers will not be using those auxillary supplements, affording or having access to the steroids only and suffering health conditions as a result.

    I understand that, but at the same time, I know that you can get a 6 week supply of whatever you need for about the same amount as the multi/protein/fat burner that people keep using.

    I would actually put fat burners about as dangerous as steroids, a lot of companies don't really know what they're doing so they're throwing a ton of crap in, and then people are having heart problems.

    This i'd definitely agree on. Fat burners or any other thermogenics seem way too harmless for the potential risks that they carry.
  • soliddreams
    soliddreams Posts: 37
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    Just to clarify - are you saying that the use of steroids would enable your body to recover and repair/grow quicker so you could go out and enjoy more things you enjoy? I'm not sure what you meant, but it's an interesting point.

    Exactly! Maybe not enjoy more things (if you enjoy eating horribly, haha) but basically what they do at the molecular level is take all the protein you ingest and use it towards repairing your body, as well as the added boosts of boosting your test (which is a legal thing now, docs are giving out legal steroids, the only diff is you have to have a prescription!) which has a host of good effects.


    Victoria, I got some oxyelitepro from usplabs and my heart rate went from sitting at 80-90 to 130-140! I thought I was dying.
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
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    This is a great steroid bit the discovery channel did. It has some awesome new computer graphics (CGI) to show you the effects of steroids and how they effect the body.

    Part 1 of 5
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljOC0L1Bq8E
  • firstsip
    firstsip Posts: 8,399 Member
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    I think they're only illegal because of the use in competitive sports. Its unfair to have some people get a competitive edge using steroids while someone else may not want to use them.

    It would suck for lets say an olympic athlete who wants to compete naturally to have to go up against other people using steroids.
    In a situation like that then everyone competing is forced to use steroids even if they don't like the idea of putting drugs in their bodies.

    As for the general population, they should be legal but still controlled. It wouldn't be a good idea to have them so easily accessible to teens or young adults who are still developing. It would be great to use them under the supervision of a doctor, especially with injuries and speeding up recovery though.

    victoria what a load of tosh!

    Do you understand the whole `cabaret` of steroids?

    Are you saying steroids do a little song and dance? Hey big spender!
  • LiftAllThePizzas
    LiftAllThePizzas Posts: 17,857 Member
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    I don't know of any rational reason to ban them for people who want to use them. I've never heard of a movement to get them unbanned, (like the potheads trying to get pot legalized) so I didn't even know until just now that anyone even cared. LOL

    The problem with allowing them in competitions and sports is that it becomes 'mandatory' in order to keep up with those who are doing it. It would be like a construction company telling all of its workers that it will pay them double time whenever they are not wearing or using their safety gear.
  • geebusuk
    geebusuk Posts: 3,348 Member
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    Just to clarify - are you saying that the use of steroids would enable your body to recover and repair/grow quicker so you could go out and enjoy more things you enjoy? I'm not sure what you meant, but it's an interesting point.
    I haven't looked into what steroids can and can't do. I'm aware some claim they are not safe at all, while others claim that with the correct researching, you can use them perfectly 'safely'. I haven't done said research, so won't be going near them myself.

    What I was suggesting that if there was a way I could get my body to be stronger with less effort safely, I'd happily take it.
    That means I could spend more time climbing harder problems/routes.
    That maybe I might have time to do some parkour training and hopefully be better at it due to said strength. Similarly, both give me a bit more time for some Krav Maga training, but also again be better at it.
    No doubt also help motorbiking, mountain biking and some other stuff.

    Also, generally - note that a lot of sport things DO only reward the competitors that put themselves at more risk than others.
    A lot of 'extreme sports', never mind more traditional motorsports and just general injuries associated with many sports - most sports people do have to push themselves and risk injury.
  • jeffsweightloss
    jeffsweightloss Posts: 314 Member
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    Just thought i'd give my 2 cents worth here. i'm a nobody so this is just my opinion. steroids ahve side effects. if you know what they are..and you decide to take them, then you choose to do so with that in mind. it's your body, your life. are steroids different than any other drug? controled or not? every drug has a side effect...and most have many. diabetic meds...heart meds...blood pressure meds...all drugs. and all drugs kill people. your doctor prescribes them and you take them. i don't take steroids and never have...but i have done my research on them as i have thought about trying them before. no good explanation on why the government bans them. maybe b/c they can. like everything else the government does and controls. i'm a nurse by profession. i've seen some side effects from prescribed drugs by doctors. some people are on meds to control the side effects of some medications. sometimes it's needed to take a medication for health. as with sports...they take them b/c it gives them an edge. if they take a legal substance...and it gives them an edge...is it fair to the guy that doesn't? the air we breath is poluted..but we breath it b/c we don't have a choice. the food we eat has something on it, or in it...but we need it to live. we choose to do what we do b/c it's our life...and no ones else. if someone wants to take them...i don't care. it's a persons choice. just like people want to lose weight, get in better shape, or live a sedintary lifestyle and die from health complications. only we can choose what's right for us.
  • phyllisbobbitt
    phyllisbobbitt Posts: 347 Member
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    well, i can say from experience that i had to have steroid injections done on my spine for 14 yrs. the result of that was i became a diabetic. it stopped my pancreas from functioning. i am now almost insulin resistant to artificial diabetic meds. now, i have to take several different kinds of insulin every time i put anything in my mouth. not a very pleasant thing to live with. the drs. knew what it could do to me but never mentioned it to me until after they found my blood sugar levels over 500 which should and always was 90. so do not mention steroids to me because i get a little ticked off about it . are they good for you? I DO NOT THINK SO!
  • Shock_Wave
    Shock_Wave Posts: 1,573 Member
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    well, i can say from experience that i had to have steroid injections done on my spine for 14 yrs. the result of that was i became a diabetic. it stopped my pancreas from functioning. i am now almost insulin resistant to artificial diabetic meds. now, i have to take several different kinds of insulin every time i put anything in my mouth. not a very pleasant thing to live with. the drs. knew what it could do to me but never mentioned it to me until after they found my blood sugar levels over 500 which should and always was 90. so do not mention steroids to me because i get a little ticked off about it . are they good for you? I DO NOT THINK SO!

    :laugh: LOOOOOOL ^^ this .. OP and every one here is talking about Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) and not your Cortico Steroids shots for your back. They are 2 different things but coincidentally share the same name "steroid" :laugh: :drinker:
  • Emtabo01
    Emtabo01 Posts: 672
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    I read the OP, but not all responses, sorry, and yes anabolic steroids are a C-3 drug. I'm a pharmacist and I was told in pharmacy school that drugs are classified as controlled substances solely because of their addictive properties, except for anabolic steroids. They became controlled substances (from just regular prescription drug status like Lipitor or Viagra) because the diversion of them was so great and unable to be reigned in or managed, that they were made controlled substances, just to put that extra level of monitoring, bookkeeping, etc, in place. I think the ill/adverse/side effects must have been prevalent enough in the news at the time, that they felt they needed to act to protect the public, in my opinion.
  • BaneOfMFPsExistence
    BaneOfMFPsExistence Posts: 210
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    Are you saying steroids do a little song and dance? Hey big spender!
    Ha. That made me laugh.
  • BaneOfMFPsExistence
    BaneOfMFPsExistence Posts: 210
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    I read the OP, but not all responses, sorry, and yes anabolic steroids are a C-3 drug. I'm a pharmacist and I was told in pharmacy school that drugs are classified as controlled substances solely because of their addictive properties, except for anabolic steroids. They became controlled substances (from just regular prescription drug status like Lipitor or Viagra) because the diversion of them was so great and unable to be reigned in or managed, that they were made controlled substances, just to put that extra level of monitoring, bookkeeping, etc, in place. I think the ill/adverse/side effects must have been prevalent enough in the news at the time, that they felt they needed to act to protect the public, in my opinion.
    ...OR... the government hates awesomeness. (kidding)
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
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    I read the OP, but not all responses, sorry, and yes anabolic steroids are a C-3 drug. I'm a pharmacist and I was told in pharmacy school that drugs are classified as controlled substances solely because of their addictive properties, except for anabolic steroids. They became controlled substances (from just regular prescription drug status like Lipitor or Viagra) because the diversion of them was so great and unable to be reigned in or managed, that they were made controlled substances, just to put that extra level of monitoring, bookkeeping, etc, in place. I think the ill/adverse/side effects must have been prevalent enough in the news at the time, that they felt they needed to act to protect the public, in my opinion.
    ...OR... the government hates awesomeness. (kidding)

    You say you're kidding, but I believe there are many examples that might just support your position.

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