Steroid

Steroids. It is a familiar word with typically negative connotations. No doubt, most have heard about athletes who abuse steroids and are looked upon as superhero types. On the other hand, some may be all too aware of the bad side effects associated with steroid medications, including heart and liver damage. Steroids should be banned from athletic usage because of the negative long-term effects and influence on teens. More than a million people in the U.S. are thought to have used steroids, 48 percent of them are under the age of twenty-five. Of the million people that have experimented with steroids, very few are aware of the harmful effects. Some of the most common effects include; severe acne, high blood pressure, trembling, and weakening of tendons which may result in tearing or rupture (DiConsiglio, 4). However, for teenagers, there is the additional risk of premature closure of the growth plates of the long bones. Even if not for this added risk, the self-administration of anabol...