Warm – up: use a piece of NB paper

Why might teens take performance enhancing drugs?

Rank the following reasons in order:Desire to gain muscle mass or strengthPressure from others to gain weight or

muscleTo win at all costsTo overcome negative body imageTo become competitive in a sport or

competitionBelief that “everyone else is doing it”

Mark McGwire Quote

“I wish I had never touched steroids. It was foolish and a mistake. I truly apologize.”

9.ATOD.1.1: EXPLAIN THE SHORT-TERM AND LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF PERFORMANCE-ENHANCING DRUGS ON HEALTH AND ELIGIBILITY TO PARTICIPATE IN SPORTS.

9.ATOD.1: Understand the health risks associated with alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use.

General Facts Once viewed as a problem strictly associated with body

builders, fitness "buffs," and professional athletes, the abuse of steroids is prevalent in today’s society.

This is an alarming problem because of increased abuse over the years, and the ready availability of steroids and steroid related products.

The problem is widespread throughout society including school-age children, athletes, fitness "buffs," business professionals, etc.

Teenagers are the leading group of steroid users due to body appearance – 1/3 are not athletes

Both males and females abuse steroids.

What do studies show? The national institute on drug abuse (NIDA)

estimates that more than a half million 8th and 10th grade students are now using these dangerous drugs, and increasing numbers of high school seniors don’t believe steroids are risky.

Another study indicated that 1,084,000 Americans, or 0.5 percent of the adult population, said that they had used anabolic steroids.

These are just a couple of examples of how widespread the problem has become.

What are anabolic steroids? Synthetically produced variants of the

naturally occurring male hormone testosterone.

Both males and females have testosterone produced in their bodies: males in the testes, and females in the ovaries and other tissues.

The full name for this class of drugs is androgenic (promoting masculine characteristics) anabolic (tissue building) steroids (the class of drugs).

The Effect Androgenic Effect

refers to the physical changes experienced by a male during puberty, in the course of development to manhood

males and females have similar effects

This property is responsible for the majority of the side effects of steroid use.

Anabolic Effects refers to promoting

of anabolism, the actual building of tissues, mainly muscle, accomplished by the promotion of protein synthesis.

How Are They Taken? Injection (most common)

Using non-sterile needles can result in blood-borne diseases

Orally (most common) Pellet implantation under the skin Application to the skin (e.g. gels or

patches). Steroids are taken anywhere from 1 up to

100 times the normal therapeutic doses of anabolic steroids.

Methods cont.

StackingThis often includes taking two or more

steroids concurrently Cycling

Abusers will often alternate periods (6 to 16 weeks in length) of high dose use of steroids with periods of low dose use or no drug at all

Pyramidingusers slowly escalate steroid use ( during

a 6-12 week period increasing the number of drugs used at one time )

Reaching a peak amount at mid-cycle and gradually taper the dose toward the end of the cycle

Physical Effects

High blood cholesterol levels - high blood cholesterol levels may lead to cardiovascular problems

Severe acne Thinning of hair and baldness Fluid retention High blood pressure Liver disorders (liver damage, jaundice

and tumors)

Physical Effects Risk of contracting HIV and other blood-

borne diseases from sharing infected needles

Nose bleeds Damage liver and heart Enlarging hands and feet Growth plate to close and stunt growth

prematurely

Psychological Effect

Mood swings (including manic-like symptoms leading to violence)

Impaired judgment (stemming from feelings of invincibility)

Depression Nervousness

Psychological Effect

Extreme irritability Delusions Steroid psychosis is a mental illness

and often results in “roid rage”Resembles temper tantrums and user

loses control and may harm others or themselves

Steroids and Athletics

Creates an unfair competitive advantage

International Olympic Committee has tested competitors since 1976Several winners have been stripped of

their medals after testing positive Use of drugs for a competitive edge is

unhealthy Destroys the major purpose of sports

competition

Controlled Substances Act On February 27, 1991 anabolic steroids are

defined as any drug or hormonal substance chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone that promotes muscle growth.

The possession or sale of anabolic steroids without a valid prescription is illegal.

Steroids are legal with a prescription. People are prescribed anabolic steroids

because of a disease that causes a decrease in muscle tissue and burn victims

Athletes Caught in The Act!On June 6, 2008 Former San Francisco Giants baseball player Barry Bonds arrives at the federal courthouse in San Francisco, Calif. The government's case against Barry Bonds includes several positive drug test results.

The IOC decided Thursday not to reallocate the gold medal that admitted drug-cheat Marion Jones won in the 100 meter sprint at the 2000 Olympics. Why? The silver medalist has also been linked with doping.

Chris Benoit, WWE wrestler murder his wife and son then hung himself after a long period of steroid use mixed with anti-depressant medication.

Sylvester Stallone used steroids to bulk up his body for his last Rocky Balbo movie. Stallone is 63 years old.

Maurice Greene, shown at the 2004 Olympics in Athens, has been named by a witness in the federal investigation into performance-enhancing drugs, according to a report by The New York Times.

Athletes Caught in the Act Barry Bonds Marion Jones Maurice Greene Chris Benoit Sylvester Stallone

Journal Entry # 6 Choose 1 of the following topics to discuss in

Essay format. (minimum 200 words, max 300) What are the ethical issues surrounding the use of

steroids in the athletic arena?

What does it mean to you as high school students that teenagers are the leading population for abuse? What can you do about it?

How do you perceive steroid use, after seeing many athletes succeed with anabolic steroids? (Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jose Canseco, Marion Jones,)?