Policy And Steroids
The government reform committee in the U.S. held a hearing in 2005 which was meant to evaluate the efforts of the major league in base ball in eradicating the use of steroids. Many stake holders in the sport fraternity testified including some retired baseball professionals. Most of the testimonies that were presented to the committee reflected the use of steroids to be growing social problem in the American society. Many evaluations were made concerning this issue and there were doubts whether an effective drug testing agenda will ever be introduced in this profession.
A Similar hearing had been held a year earlier by the government officials on the evaluation of anabolic steroids control act of 2004. This forum had led to the addition of androstenedione in Schedule III of controlled substances. The hearing on steroids use has become a common thing in the 21st century but they are not coupled with policy outcomes. This paper tries to analyze why the policies that have been put in place to curb the use of steroids have not been successful.
Steroids defined
Steroid is a broad term for a given range of carbon compounds, they have many uses but for purposes of this study I will be referring to anabolic steroids which are used to build up tissue or muscle of an individual. Anabolic steroids are manufactured version of testosterone male hormone. The hormone testosterone is both anabolic and androgenic, thus it builds the body tissue and gives an individual enhanced male characteristic.
Brief history of steroid production
The earliest version of steroid was produced in 1940 by Ernst Laquaur a Dutch pharmacologist and was meant to help in restoration of sexual energy to aging men. After this was achieved steroids were then syntheses to help build and help in muscle recovery. The glory for this discovery was short lived as it started to receive condemnation in the field of sports as steroids were said to give athletes undue advantage. In 1975 steroids was added in the list of banned substance in Olympic Games. Trafficking of steroids became illegal in 1988 in the united sates of America.
Effects of steroid
Anabolic steroids can be taken by injecting in the blood stream or orally. Steroids are taken in cycles over a given period of time an individual may take multiple doses over a given time. Some of the steroids users may take different combination of steroids to counter the side’s effects. Abuse of steroids can result to serious health problems some which are permanent.
The major side effect includes liver diseases such as cancer and tumors, high blood pressure complications, kidney failure and tumors and body cholesterol problems. They are some side’s effects that only relate to particular gender, like in men there is slinking of testicles, reduced fertility, and increased risk of prostrate cancer. Breast growth and reduced sperm count. For women there is facial hair growth, clitoris enlargement, menstrual cycle cessation and deepening of the voice. To the puberty steroids cause stunted growth and puberty changes that are accelerated. They are some of the physiological problems which are caused by the use of steroid ,these includes mood swings which can leads to individuals being violent , biased judgment, depression, body nervousness, excessive irritability and delusions.
Why the steroid is a sociological problem
People are willing to take great risks to day to excel in the word of sports, and perform better in their areas of work. The aspect of image has also become paramount in our society today. The rate of steroids use is growing day by day so that people can be able to achieve their goals. Despite the laws that illegalize the use and trafficking of steroids has become rampant in the society.
There also the social issue that comes from the use of steroids which are affecting sports fraternity and the society as a whole .The use of steroids in completive sports gives an athlete undue advantage over his competitors. This has undermined the foundation for these competition which tries to appreciate the natural talents. This is viewed as a social; problem because people are trying to cheat on there abilities. The following are some examples that show that this problem is wide spread-
General public
A survey carried by substance abuse and mental health serves found out that 0.5 percent of adult population in America have ever used anabolic steroids. Among the group aged between 18 to 34 it was found that a 1 percent of this population had used anabolic steroid in their life, (Perikles et al, 2006). This was van increase as compared to a similar survey that was conducted in 1991.
Research has shown that the increase in the use of steroids increase with the increase in the use of other drugs. The survey shows that there has been increase in the availably of steroids in the black market has the criminals are improvising new ways to evade the police dragnets. This increase in the use of these drugs has also been attributed to the changes in people’s lifestyle. Many people who are currently using steroids started using them when they were at school going age.
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