Abusing Steroids on and off the Field

Major League Baseball and other professional sport organizations over the past 20 years have gone through a very public battle with the use and abuse of anabolic steroids. MLB’s most coveted record, the all time home run record, is now tainted because the record holder, Barry Bonds, is a suspected steroid user. Professional leagues have raised awareness and toughened drug tests on their players, but still we see players being suspended for steroid use even now in 2011. Due to this conflict, the public’s perception of steroids is that they are abused only among athletes, but the reality is that steroid abuse occurs on and off the field. Steroid abuse generally happens when people start using steroids for reasons other than medical treatments. The reasons for steroid abuse include using steroids to improve appearance or enhance physical performance. Studies even suggest that steroid abuse is high among adolescents, starting as young as eighth grade. Furthermore, steroid abuse is more prevalent in adolescents who participate in other risky behaviors such as drinking and driving and using other drugs. Teenagers in communities with a major league baseball team like Boston, Massachusetts (MA) might be more prone to using steroids because they think it will help them become a professional like their local idols.

Steroids are taken orally or injected, typically in cycles of weeks or months interrupted by shorter resting periods, referred to as cycling. In addition, users often combine several different types of steroids, a practice referred to as stacking. Steroids are very powerful hormones that can be extremely dangerous and they can cause a variety of health problems some of which can have lasting ramifications. Though the potential successes of steroids are well perceived by the general public (improved muscle appearance and body tone) the potential dangers of steroid abuse are for the most part unknown. The well discussed risks that most likely float around as rumors in Boston, Massachusetts (MA) schools like the shrinking of testicles, bodily hair growth, stunted growth, and increased aggression are all true, but there are more dangerous risks that steroid abusers face that aren’t as well known. Steroid users are at an increased risk of HIV and Hepatitis, liver toxicity, stroke, prostate enlargement, heart attack and even death. These risks are extremely heightened when someone uses steroids that aren’t prescribed to them, which is the most probable case with steroid abuse.

Supportive therapy combined with education about possible withdrawal symptoms is sufficient in some cases of steroid abuse. Sometimes, medications can be used to restore the balance of the hormonal system after its disruption by steroid abuse. Seabrook can help Boston, Massachusetts (MA) community members that struggle with steroid use or abuse through their internationally recognized private and exclusive inpatient drug rehabilitation and alcoholism detoxification treatment center. Seabrook is located rural Bridgeton, New Jersey (NJ)—roughly a 6 hour drive or about an hour flight from Boston, Massachusetts (MA). Don’t let steroids destroy your body. Seabrook’s elite CARF accreditation status ensures top of the line treatment for steroid addiction and recovery.