| For the most part, steroid “abuse” is not acceptable by either group. The way they define steroid abuse differs, however. Opponents of steroid use often believe that any non-prescription, non-medical use of steroids constitutes abuse.
Supporters of steroid use, however, have a less definitive line. The best way to define abuse as opposed to use is to treat steroids like the drug that they are. Steroids can be used and have been approved for use to treat certain medical conditions such as certain cancers as well as chronic wasting. If you look at other drugs that have medical, prescription uses you’ll see similarities. Something as simple as aspirin is a drug that can be used without physician supervision and can be use quite safely. If used too much, however, it can be dangerous. The same is true with alcohol. It can be used socially and quite safely, but when the use is abused is when it becomes dangerous. Steroids can be looked at the same way – the supporters of steroid use believe that there are ways to use the drugs without health dangers.
So back to the line between use and abuse of steroids, supporters of steroid use believe that if a person can control their cycles, use and intake of steroids and prevent it from becoming a compulsion then it’s likely not “abuse”. Supporters of steroid use often claim that steroid abuse most often occurs in situations where the user does not have sufficient information about how to best used steroids to diminish the risk of side effects as much as possible.
Another issue that supports and opponents of steroid use disagree about is the dosages that are safe. Opponents of steroid use for performance enhancement likely only agree that the doses approved for the FDA for medical treatments. Supporters of steroid use for performance enhancement also think that there is a possibility of overdosing, but the levels are much higher. They generally understand that most steroids operate on a threshold that once users reach a certain level of steroids there is no more benefits gain but the negative side effects increase – yet another reason why anyone who wants to use steroids for performance enhancement need to become educated to know how much is enough to be successful.
Opponents of steroid use for performance enhancement don’t think that anyone should use them and that use constitutes cheating. Supporters of steroid use for performance enhancement believe that steroid use has a time and place and often agree that amateur and high school athletes don’t have the resources available to fully educate them on how to safely use the steroids. Professional athletes have coaches and trainers that can help them use the steroids with the least amount of side effects as well as the resources that allow them to have necessary blood work to monitor possible side effects.
It’s also a common agreement between supporters and opponents of steroid abuse that the health risks for adolescents and women using steroids are too high for them to use them safely for performance enhancement. Adolescents who use steroids run the risk of a premature halt of growth since the additional hormones in the body signal that it’s time for the growth plates to close. Females who use steroids run the risk of virilization as well as irregularities in the menstrual cycle. Taking steroids while pregnant is also very dangerous for the fetus.
There is another group of people who don’t like the fact that steroids have been made illegal in the United States. They hold their opinions based on the belief that regardless of safety people should have the ability to choose what they will or won’t introduce into their bodies.
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