Student Athletes Using Steroids
Student Athletes Using Steroids
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Introduction
This research focuses on the use of steroids by student athletes to enhance their
physical performances in competitions. Sports are prominent ventures that are valued and
vilified by many societies. Many youth will thus try all available means to be the best and
beat the present competition. This competitive drive to win and be the best can be very fierce,
leading to some athletes opting for shortcuts and artificial enhancements to boost their
performance. The availability of performance enhancement drugs means that it is readily
available to every individual who could be interested in taking them. This includes student
athletes where some may misuse their availability to boost their performance in the field.
This is made evident by the large numbers of student athletes caught with traces of steroids in
their system before major tournaments. This is as found out by a research done by ESPN
Player, which found out that there was asteroids loom in major, college football tournaments.
(ESPN Player, 2012).
According to the report, there was a high number of student footballers who were
using energy boosting steroids. This was in a bid to win in the country’s major football
tournaments. The most affected population were the men in the competition. Besides, there
was a remarkable percentage increase of the use of energy boosting steroids among student
athletes. This was mainly fuelled by the fact that they had, as said afore, become so available
to anyone interested including students (ESPN Player, 2012).
The need and dream of winning a gold medal for their nation, personal
accomplishment and securing a spot in a team makes it easy for student athletes to succumb
to the temptation of using performance-enhancing drugs. Other causes are individual traits
such as impatience with standard practices, laziness and shying away from hard work (ESPN
Player, 2012). This was found out by researchers who posted their findings on the Huffington
Post daily pointing to various causes of the increased use of steroids among student athletes.
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Apparently, according to the articles, there are so many students in the United States who are
using the steroids in self-medicated packages that are against the medical practice. The article
also poses the reality of the menace of use of steroids in schools by citing various student
athlete cases of the use of steroids (Whyte, 2011). The use of steroids in sports raises the
question of ethics in sports while at the same time exposes these athletes to career loss after
exposure, addiction, and psychological effects of anabolic steroids, which are the most
common enhancers ever used.
This research aims to address the student athlete’s use of steroids in sports. This will
bring about integrity to sports and also enable institutions to train ethical athletes who are
likely to have a longer span in sports than those using steroids. Besides that, knowledge of the
various strategies that can be used to cut the practice is greatly appropriate.
This topic is of interest because of the recent rise in steroid use among high school
students and college students’ athletes (ESPN Player, 2012). The interest raised by the
development and the widespread use of these performance-enhancing drugs is the effect that
this would have on the credibility of national competitions. Besides this, the increased use
puts the country’s athletic ambitions in question if suspicions of steroid use extend to all
athletes, rather than just a few . Encouraging the students to work on their athletic potential
and cease with immediacy from use of the performance enhancing drugs is the ultimate goal
of this paper. They would, besides developing their athletic skills, preserve their health.
The importance of this study is that address the psychological and biological impacts
these drugs have on athletes. Young athletes are lured into steroid use by seeing the hike in
performance of steroid users in the field. Such youths may be attracted to try steroids to
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match what they see other users performing in the field; the delusion of the effectiveness of
the use of steroids moves students to believe that their performance will equal that of other
field users. Following this belief, they continue to use the drugs without understanding the
negative effects associated with their use.
The class of anabolic steroids have serious side effects and risks, such as, increased
aggressiveness, increased cholesterol, stroke, blood clots, urinary and bowel problems,
balding and testicle shrinking, hyper masculinity in young men and feminizing effects on
young men (Avishkar, 2007). On this note, some of the affected youthful users, especially the
young men, may exhibit rapid changes in mood as well irritability and aggression
(Craig,2008).
In one case in research on the effects of the drugs by (Avishkar, 2007), a user
attributed the use of such drugs to reduced performance although the drugs made them feel
stronger and more athletic. This effect is not to just a few number of users, as a matter of
record, students who had used the drugs are said to have had gone for “S parties”, a term used
to refer to a situation where they would inject each other in turns with the drugs. This gave
them the look that they had but made them experience the previously mentioned effects
(Avishkar, 2007).
Steroids also have psychological effects such as increased irritability, aggression,
violence, depression, and suicidal tendencies (Craig, 2008).
A National Institute of Drug Abuse study in 2002, reported that 2.5% of 8th graders,
2.5% of 10th graders, 4% of 12th graders, and an average of 6% of athletes overall had used
drugs to enhance their performance (NIDA, 2002). From those numbers it is clear the need to
address this problem as it affects a sizeable population and to promote integrity and hard
work in sports.
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Some of the technical terms used in this study are anabolic effects, which are
hormones that promote muscle building. Androgenic effects are traits responsible for male
traits such as facial hair and deep voices.
The paper will look at use of steroids from a cognitive psychology and biological
perspective. This will evaluate the physical and biological impacts of the drug and the
psychological impact of the drugs. Basically, as from the literature review, there are different
psychological effects that are related with the student’s ability to think clearly. These are the
aforementioned factors such as irritability and very aggressive nature due to mood swings as
a result of their use. The physical perspective deals with the observable body changes that are
effected by the use of such drugs. Findings from this literature review will be used to inform
an evidence-based social program to educate young athletes on the dangers of performance
enhancing drugs.
The history of research on steroid use among young athletes can be traced back to the
sport psychologist Dr. Carl Diem in Berlin, in the early 1920s. His study analysed steroid
abuse and impact on sports performance and eventual physical and psychological health of
the athlete. He reported that there was a positive correlation between athlete’s health in their
later life and their former lives as active athletes. Most of the athletes who used the steroid
enhancing drugs had a troubled adulthood faced with various sclerotic diseases. This was
found to be caused by discontinuation of the drugs by the athletes. Besides this, some of the
athletes attributed the use of drugs to reduced sexual activity, which is a physical effect of the
use of steroids. Need to find the source.
Following a thorough review of steroid use in athletes from the cognitive and
biological psychology perspectives, an evidence-based social program will be proposed to
educate student athletes about the dangers inherent in steroid use. This program will set to
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identify causes of steroid abuse, awareness sessions, and rehabilitation and support programs
for athletes both using and not using the steroids.
The rest of the paper shows the various studies conducted on young athlete steroid use
over the years, the summary of findings and recommendations to tackle this social problem.
Cognitive Psychology
This study by Verbeke et.al. (2011) sought to identify the relationship between
cognitive feelings of masculinity and entitlement and the use of AAS (anabolic-androgenic
steroids). The research found that young men who felt the need to increase their masculinity
traits were more likely to use AAS. Self-entitlement among young men also drove more to
use AAS to establish their masculinity and boost their ego. Steroid use is thus dependent on
the cognitive needs of the user.
This study by Blashill (2014), on the other hand set to indicate the relationship
between AAS use and increased aggression, impulsiveness and violence among adolescent
users. Results from this study show that AAS directly affect the cognitive skills of an
individual. Though this is not clear to most people and research on its truthfulness is ongoing,
because there are almost satisfactory theoretical perspectives, which have been made to
support the construct. For instance, the case of a student who gave his account on the use of
steroids in schools by athletes, he clearly said that after using the drugs, they found
themselves under mood swings. There is a proof of association between mood swings and
loss of cognitive ability. For this reason, most of the athletes may be aggressive and violent.
This study by Hildreth et.al. (2013) set to identify the relationship if any of AAS use
and depression and stress related complications. Results show that some steroids are
depressive and can even lead to suicide.
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The study by Frick (2012), sought to establish relationship between AAS use and
effects on cognitive functions over the years. Extended use of AAS will permanently affect
hormonal balance and cognitive functions, which revolve around an individual’s ability to
logically construct realistic and sound decisions based on his or her surroundings. If
rehabilitation happens early then, the effects can be reversed. Need to find the article again to
cite it in reference page ( sorry )
b: Relevant terms
AAS: Anabolic-androgenic steroid
c: Critique Literature
The articles sought to identify the involvement of the cognitive functions in steroid
use and the impact of steroid use in cognitive functions. A person is driven to steroid use by
cognitive desires to excel, self-entitlement for increased masculinity and personal gain. The
increased use of steroids will negatively affect cognitive functions such as depression,
suicidal tendencies, aggression, and violent behaviour. These articles were helpful in
establishing a cause and effect map on steroid use among student athletes.
The study will be bound by various limitations. Some of these limitations include the
availability of quantitative data since most of the students cannot give their stories on
experience with the drugs. Secondly, the issue of time may arise considering that it may be
time intensive due to the technicality involved. However, the research will be conducted
since the benefits of undertaking it far outweigh the costs.
d: Main Themes
The main themes are the cognitive functions leading to steroid abuse are, selfentitlement and self-appraisal through masculinity. Impacts of steroid use on cognitive
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functions such as aggression, depression, impulsiveness, suicidal tendencies and reduced
cognitive functions in old age are also addressed.
a: Biological Psychology
This study by Hildebrandt et.al. (2014) studied the relationship between use of
steroids and impact on the prefrontal cortex, which affects self-regulation. The study showed
that use of steroids minimized prefrontal cortex functions resulting in an individual being
violent and aggressive due to lack of self-regulation.
This study by Parent and Moradi, (2011), sought to establish whether the benefits of
E2 hormone( Estradiol) secreted by ovaries and which enhances memory functions can be
artificially produced to increase patient memory. It was found that the E2 can increase
memory functions but with negative side effects. Considering that most student athlete’s to
excel in studies as well, they continuously use this drug to enhance their memory such that
after they are in the filed working out, they can easily capture what was taught in their
absentia.
The third study evaluates use of AAS and its impact on LAH component of the brain. This
causes AAS users to have low inhibitions and thus more aggressive.
b: Relevant terms
LAH- latero-anterior hypothalamus
AAS- Anabolic androgenic steroid
c: Critique of literature
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The articles discuss the impact of steroids on various brain parts and impact such as
aggression, increased memory functions but with negative side effects and inhibition of selfregulation and control.
d: Main Themes
The main themes are self-regulation, memory functions and cognitive functions of the
brain and how steroids affect these parts and functions.
IV Integration of Sub Discipline A & B
The themes that stand out in both sub disciplines are that steroids provide extremely
quick fixes to physical performance and muscle growth. This is what is used to market these
drugs without describing the negative biological and cognitive side effects of steroid use.
Steroids affect brain functions affecting self-regulation, memory, and cognitive
function after extended use, depression, suicidal tendencies, aggressiveness, violence and
biological impacts such as feminine traits in men, or androgenic traits in women. It also
affects sexual characteristics and can lead to impotence or low sperm count.
These studies have not researched steroid use in a school setting to establish
prevalence and impacts.
V. Proposal
This social program will involve the study of student athletes on steroid abuse. Sports
being prominent and highly valued, the menace of steroid has become common among all
athletes including students. There have been research studies on the extent of possible effects
of the use of the steroids among professional athletes. These studies however have not
researched steroid use in a school setting to establish prevalence and impacts. This social
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program would involve a focus on the student athletes to identify the usage and the impact of
the steroids.
Purpose
The purpose of this social program is to identify causes of steroid abuse, organize
awareness sessions, rehabilitation and support programs for student athletes both using and
not using the steroids. The social program will entail findings on the best means to use the
community to avert the loom of using steroids among students. This is to ensure that problem
is addressed wholly and a long term solution is achieved.
The Program and the Participants
The social program would consist the working together of all the participants in order
to identify what works best for the student’s athletes and all the affected stakeholders. The
participants of the program would include practitioners, researchers, the sporting specialists
and other interested professional organizations. This in order to bring on board all the key
stakeholders and to ensure the program is well coordinated and an extensive impact is
achieved.
Ethical consideration
The programs of similar nature can fail to recognize the harms it might have on the
society. This is because the society is composed of different people. It comprises of
economically disadvantaged people, the politically underrepresented and the culturally
disadvantaged who need to be considered. The participants would need to identify and
understand the society in order to minimize unethical practices.
Implementation
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The implementation of the social program would necessitate the engagement of
professionals for it to be effective as different specific skills would be required. The blood
sample testing of the student athletes for the steroids would need engagement of medical
practitioners. The Psychologists and Social workers services would also be required in the
program in order to ensure effective training and creation of awareness. They would be in the
forefront to lead and implement the program.
Funding
The funding of the program would include from the government, sporting
associations, nongovernmental organizations and all other stakeholders such as the not for
profit organizations. The problem of use of steroids is affecting the whole society and all the
necessary resources including the finances would be of much significance to support the
program. An appeal for support of the program from the above stakeholders would be sought
to ensure that everyone is brought on board.
Assessment
The program would be tested for its effectiveness by evaluation of the level of the
extent on the targeted student athletes. This would involve the post implementations practices
such as re- testing for steroids in the blood of the students after some time. This is in order to
determine the level of achievement of the anticipated drop rate of the steroids usage and the
next course of action.
The strengths and limitations
The strength of the program is the ability to talk to the affected students to get all the
relevant data. The program however have limitations which would include the availability of
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quantitative data since most of the students might not give their stories on experience with the
drugs. Secondly, the issue of time may arise considering that it may be time intensive due to
the technicality involved.
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