For some people, sports are just a hobby or fun pastime. However, for others, sports are a way of life, an opportunity for scholarships, or even a chance at a successful career. The competition involved with sports can often be a lot to handle and may even take a toll on one’s mental health. For some people, the pressure can simply become too much. Feeling stressed, overwhelmed, and desperate, some athletes decide to try performance-enhancing drugs as a way to put themselves a step above the competition or simply to make their teammates and coaches proud. 

The Problem of Performance-Enhancing Drugs 

Performance-enhancing drugs are not only illegal but using them for athletic performances is considered cheating. Using performance-enhancing drugs can cause an athlete to not only get into major trouble with the law, but it can also cause the athlete to get kicked off the team or even lose a scholarship. With the wide array of negative consequences, including adverse physical effects, using performance-enhancing drugs is simply not worth it.

Types of Performance-Enhancing Drugs and Their Dangers

Some of the most commonly misused performance-enhancing drugs include anabolic and designer steroids, human growth hormones, and stimulants. These performance-enhancing drugs can cause a variety of severe health issues.

Dangers of Anabolic and Designer Steroids

Anabolic steroids are used to help build strength and muscle mass. Weightlifters and bodybuilders are especially known to use these kinds of drugs. Everyone has a natural steroid in their body called testosterone which is what helps to grow your muscles. Men, of course, have higher levels of testosterone than women. Athletes turn to anabolic steroids so they can help muscles heal more quickly after a strenuous workout. This way, they can continue to engage in grueling weightlifting and workouts without having to wait for their body to recover. 

Athletes who are particularly familiar with the world of steroids know that many anabolic steroids can appear on drug tests, which can get them into major trouble. For that reason, many turn to something called designer steroids. Designer steroids lead to the same effects but cannot be detected on a drug scan. 

There are numerous dangers associated with this type of steroid use. For instance, men can experience infertility. Women can develop things like a deeper voice, reproductive issues, and an increase in unwanted body hair. Additional side effects can include: 

• Liver problems
• High blood pressure
• Aggressive behavior 
• Uncontrollable anger 
• Blood infections, especially when the substances are being injected
• Skin problems
• Delays in growth and development (when used by young people who have not finished developing)

Dangers of Human Growth Hormone Use

The human growth hormone exists naturally in our bodies. Produced by the pituitary gland, the human growth hormone helps with numerous bodily processes, including muscle and bone growth and metabolism. Some athletes misuse this drug through injection as a way of building up their strength and endurance. Human growth hormone use is legal only with a legitimate prescription. 

There are numerous risks involved with using this substance to enhance one’s athletic performance. Some examples include: 

• Eventual muscle weakness
• An increased risk of diabetes 
• High blood pressure 
• An enlarged heart 
• Vision problems
• Joint issues

Dangers of Stimulant Use

Stimulants affect the central nervous system, heart function, and blood pressure. There are stimulants in things like coffee or energy drinks that our bodies can tolerate. On the other hand, some athletes choose to engage in heavy stimulant drug use to increase their endurance, wake them up, and give them energy. This case can be especially true for athletes who have to be constantly moving, for example, competitive swimmers or track stars. 

The use of stimulants can be a very dangerous practice. In fact, stimulants can worsen an athlete’s performance due to their effects on the mind. These drugs can make it very difficult to sleep, preventing the athletes from getting the proper rest and energy that they need before a game. The athletes using stimulants may also find themselves to be very restless. These effects can make it difficult for them to focus on giving their best performance. 

Furthermore, these drugs are highly addictive. An individual may tell themselves that they are going to use them for only a short period of time. However, before long, they may find themselves dependent on the stimulants. In these cases, the individual finds the need to take more and more of the drugs to experience the same effects that they once gave them. 

This cycle can only go on for so long before others will begin to catch on to what is happening. Moreover, this spiral could lead to the end of a talented athlete’s career. 

Some additional risks involved with stimulant use include: 

• Heart problems
• Major weight loss
• An increased chance of a stroke 
• High blood pressure 
• Hallucinations 
• Circulatory abnormalities 

At the end of the day, no matter how tempting it may seem to engage in performance-enhancing drug use, it is simply not worth it. The consequences will catch up with you. 

For some people, sports are a way of life, an opportunity for scholarships, or even a chance at a successful career. The pressures associated with competition can be incredibly overwhelming at times. Some athletes may feel desperate to put themselves above their competition. They may even be desperate enough to turn to performance-enhancing drug use. Some of the most commonly misused performance-enhancing drugs include anabolic and designer steroids, human growth hormones, and stimulants. There are dangerous side effects associated with each of these types of drugs, and using them is simply not worth it. If you’re struggling with a substance use disorder, our team at The Kimberly Center can help. Call (855) 452-3683 today to learn more.