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 * __​Steroids and the Effects it Has on Teen Athletes__**

__** Introduction **__ There are many types of drugs out there that people take, but theirs only one drug that people take to get stronger and to get bigger. This drug is called Anabolic Steroids, and this drug has slowly been creeping its way into teen athletes and are effecting sports and their lives drastically in a bad way.

__** What are Anabolic Steroids? **__  [|Anabolic Steroids]  are the most common drug used to bulk up and gain muscle. Anabolic steroids are natural hormones produced by the body that help build muscle to become stronger. Another name for anabolic steroids is the male sex hormone called [|testosterone] it is naturally made in your body and people take this to overdose and cause there bodies to produce an un natural amount of muscle (Kuhn).



__**The Effects Anabolic Steroids Have on Your Body**__ When you take Anabolic Steroids the following are effected puberty, reproduction, and circulation. It effects puberty by increased height muscle deposition, hair development, deepened voice, and sexual development. It effects reproduction by increasing your sperm count. Lastly it effects your circulatory system by creating red blood cells, clotting factors, and the blood volume increases (Kuhn).

There are two main ways to take Steroids, either injecting or by taking pills. The main differences between the two ways are the following. Injections are higher doses of the drug but you don't need to take it as often, and pills you must take more of and more often.
 * __ Ways to take Anabolic Steroids __**

**__The Dangerous Side Effects of Taking Anabolic Steroids as an Adolescent__** Most [|teens]  think taking steroids as a teen will make you taller and bigger but the truth is when teenage athletes take large doses of anabolic steroids, they can end up shorter than they would have been if they hadn't used anabolic steroids (Kuhn). Teenagers of male and female who have not completely finished going through puberty have even more risks then adults if they take anabolic steroids. The sudden increase in testosterone in boys during puberty slows down bone growth by this occurring it increases height, but the slowing down in the bones causes the bones to stop growing. Testosterone both slows down the normal rapid bone growth during puberty and when this happens it triggers the end of puberty (Kuhn). media type="youtube" key="LvXiuq8E7Ao" height="344" width="425"

**__Altheletes Who Influence Teens Decisions__** For as long as we can remember teens have been basing many of there actions on the role models and follow and act the same way as these role models. The problem is that not all role models do the right thing and there are many [|athletes]  who exceed at what they do but cheat by using illegal drugs to improve there playing. When teens here about this it makes them feel if these professional athletes do it why cant they. "When a professional athlete admits to using steroids, the message young athletes hear is not always the one that is intended. Young athletes often believe that steroid use by their role models gives them permission to use" (Schwab).

__** Bad Side Effects of Using Anabolic Steroids **__ There are many extremely bad side [|side effects] that can occur from taking to much or taking steroids for a period of time. "The huge amounts of anabolic steroids that athletes must take to get some benefit in muscle size present some very real risks to users. The first risk is simple to understand. Anabolic steroid use increases strains and tears of the tendons and ligaments connected to the muscle. These tissues are not as elastic as muscle, and it's possible that they just can't keep up with the abrupt increase in muscle size that the anabolic steroids cause" (Kuhn).


 * __These are some bad side effects of Steroids__**


 * Increased vulnerability to damage to tendons and cartilage
 * Increased risk of cardiovascular disease: cardiac hypertrophy, altered blood lipids
 * Increased fluid retention, blood pressure
 * Increase or decrease in libido, decreased reproductive function
 * Irritability, mania
 * Reproductive tract cancer

Conclusion __** In my opinion Steroids are extremely stupid and you should never take or experiment with this drug. They are some positives to taking this drug, but it is largely outweighed by the negatives and isn't worth it. So if your ever put in the situation to take this drug just walk away and remember all this and ask yourself. Is it worth it?
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**__Works Cited __** Knapp, Gwen. "Performance-Enhancing Dietary Supplements Are Dangerous." //At Issue: Performance-Enhancing Drugs//. Ed. James Haley. San Diego: Greenhaven Press,  2003. // Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center //. Web. 5 Feb 2010. Kuhn, Cynthia, Scot Swartzwelder, and Wilkie Wilson. "The Goals and Risks of Bulking Up." //Contemporary Issues Companion: Steroids//. Ed. Stefan Kiesbye. Detroit: Greenhaven Press,  2008. // Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center //. Web. Feb 2010. Schwab, Greg. "Use of Performance-Enhancing Drugs Is a Problem Among Teens." //At Issue: Performance Enhancing Drugs//. Ed. Louise Gerdes. Detroit: Greenhaven Press,  2008. // Opposing Viewpoints Resource Center //. Web. 5 Feb 2010.