Anabolic Androgenic Steroids or AAS is a common drug used by athletes, bodybuilders, and every day, average fitness participants to drastically increase the amount of muscle grown and produced through their fitness regimens. These drugs are easy to obtain resulting in a common misuse by all participants alike. The ease of access and lack of supervision over their ability to be obtained and administered leads to many detrimental, dangerous side effects to the health of users. Users of AAS risk are destroying their mental, physical, and emotional health when not properly using anabolic androgenic steroids. So, with proper use and supervision when administering these drugs, they can be used effectively and properly to expedite muscle growth at a rapid pace and be used to combat certain diseases or disabilities. The use of AAS in all users is extremely dangerous to their mental, physical, and emotional health when not properly supervised when administered. The ability for people to obtain and use anabolic androgenic steroids must be supervised and administered properly and with safety in order to protect and reduce users from the detrimental side effects that their improper use can have on all aspects of user’s health. 

Improper use of anabolic androgenic steroids is common amongst all users in varying fields of sports and fitness related professions. AAS is known for its ability to drastically increase the user’s ability to build muscle mass at a fast pace. Anabolic androgenic steroids are a synthetic version of the male hormone testosterone. (Davis, 2016) The male hormone testosterone is the main component of building muscle. These drugs are very easy to obtain through the black market or on the internet such as the “dark” web or net. AAS is commonly used illegally in many sports professions whether it be high school, college, minor, or major leagues. (Davis, 2016) Anabolic androgenic steroids or AAS and their ability to increase the rate at which a user can produce and build muscle attracts many kinds of people to attempting to obtain them. Due to their increasing popularity and rise for demand the need for illegal methods of obtaining them continue to grow. While AAS can be obtained medically through a doctor recommended prescription, these prescriptions are given only to people with medical illnesses that allow for AAS to be used in order to combat those illnesses. Most users who take AAS for non-medical purposes cycle the drugs by administering them for a certain number of weeks at a time with a certain number of weeks not taking the drugs in order to reduce the potential side effects that can be caused by their consistent and improper usage. (Davis, 2016) AAS can be used by oral methods, methods of injection, or can be applied in forms of topical creams. While no specific type seems to be more dangerous than the other, all types without proper administration can be extremely dangerous. Most users of AAS tend to take the drugs in a “normal” dosage or as stated before are taken in cycles in order to reduce the effects of their use. Even though the usage of the drugs is cycled they can lead to adverse side effects. These side effects include the rise of “bad” cholesterol or LDL, hair loss, gynecomastia (enlarged male breasts), unusual acne patterns, and infertility. (Davis, 2016) Some users of AAS abuse the drugs much more severely and do not cycle on and off from usage. These users tend to take the drugs consistently with very little to no breaks from usage of AAS. This increased usage may continue in a more consistent and increased of muscular growth, but the risk of adverse side effects is increased tenfold. More consistent users can find themselves with so much increased cholesterol they run the risk of heart attacks, increased risk of liver damage, shrinking of the testicles (testicular atrophy), kidney damage, or even prostate cancer. Female users are liable to side effects just as dangerous such as male pattern baldness, body and facial hair growth, and deepening of the voice. (Davis, 2016) AAS or anabolic androgenic steroids are known to build muscle which where the term “anabolic” derives from or which means “to build up”. (Woolston, 2016) AAS use is extremely dangerous whether it be in “normal” dosage for a certain period of time or if the user takes the drugs consistently for long periods of time. The use of AAS is detrimental to all users no matter the age or sex. Adolescents are much more prone to the dangers of AAS use because since anabolic androgenic steroids are a synthetic version of testosterone when adolescents are taking these drugs their bodies are already producing testosterone at extremely high rates, so the usage of AAS in adolescents can cause their bodies to stop naturally producing testosterone and stunt the puberty and growth cycles of adolescents and teens because of such an intense influx of testosterone in their bodies. (Woolston, 2016) AAS use destroys all parts of the user’s health from mental to physical to even emotional health. Most users tend to abuse the drugs even more significantly then they first intended too. AAS abusers find themselves stacking the drugs in unnecessary amounts in order to further expedite their muscles growth. In return the users further increase the severity of their side effects related to use and begin to destroy their mental health. Abusers find themselves becoming much more aggressive and having severe mood swings which leads to a common side effect of AAS known as “roid rage”. (Woolston, 2016) The usage of AAS is serious and very relevant to today’s times. These drugs are easy to obtain and can become addictive for most users. Most users go through serious signs of withdrawal once trying to quit and can suffer from severe depression if not properly treated once they stop abusing the drug. (Woolston, 2016) AAS use is common in many different types of people whether they may be professional athletes, bodybuilders, or your average fitness junkies. The attraction of AAS stems from its remarkable ability to increase lean muscle mass and enhance athletic performance at such a high rate which seems nearly impossible. AAS usage and popularity has grown drastically over the last two decades and is now deemed illegal by the majority of professional sports. These major sport leagues deem the use of AAS by their athletes as “doping” and implement very strict and rigorous protocols if they catch athletes using these drugs. (Graham, 2012) Since there is an ever-increasing popularity in the usage of AAS by athletes and fitness enthusiasts alike their ability to be obtained illegally also increases. While AAS can be medically prescribed by doctors they are becoming a very popular “recreational street drug” and continue to grow in that category. (Graham, 2012). Until AAS use is deemed legal in most sports professions their increasing availability as a “street drug” and athletes means to avoid detection for use will continue to grow. The short term and long term effects of anabolic androgenic steroid use are equally dangerous and detrimental to the user’s health. AAS use can restrict the normal production of testosterone in men and reduce the amount of HDL or “good” cholesterol in users. (Hartgens, 2012) Users of AAS take consistent damage to all aspects of their health through the improper use of AAS. The drug can have hazardous effects to the heart structure and function which overtime destroys the user’s cardiovascular system. Users of anabolic androgenic steroids also take damage to their emotional and mental health which lead to depression and intense mood fluctuations. AAS users also can slowly deteriorate their immune system with the improper use of anabolic androgenic steroids. The use of AAS targets glands of the skin in users which can cause increased acne and AAS use disrupts red blood cell formation which can lead to bone breakdowns and cause users to have weaker bones and muscle fibers. (Hartgens, 2012) The use of anabolic androgenic steroids or AAS is commonly misused by all kinds of people. The improper usage destroys the mental, physical, and emotional health of users for long periods of time, if not forever. AAS use is extremely dangerous and detrimental to all users when not properly administered and when used without care. 

Anabolic Androgenic Steroids or AAS can be properly administered and used when prescribed by a doctor for medical reasons. AAS is known to be used in order to combat or treat certain medical issues. AAS can be prescribed legally for medical reasons in most countries, yet most people do not have medical issues in which require a prescription for AAS. Since people must have certain medical problems in order to receive a prescription most people who want to use AAS in order to build muscle mass or enhance athletic performance they tend to get AAS through illegal means. Some users of AAS when properly administered can benefit from the results of anabolic androgenic steroid use. Users of AAS can feel an increase in an “uplifted” or “motivated” which results in an increased reflection of happiness and mood improvement. (Kuhn, 2002) AAS use can be implemented into medical practices as well. Testosterone which is the main component of building muscle and anabolic androgenic steroids are the synthetic version of it, AAS is used in order to help patients retain or regrow muscle tissue. Patients after surgeries, burns, or even patients who have HIV can use AAS in order to reimplement muscle growth from those procedures or combat the detrimental effects of HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). (Kuhn, 2002) Users of anabolic androgenic steroids can have legitimate needs and uses for AAS. Medical professionals have the ability to prescribe AAS to patients in order to treat some medical issues. AAS can be used to help patients with physiologic problems such as problems or complications with testosterone development. Some users of AAS use the drug for medical issues related to belated mood problems or gaining a vigorous emotional drive to become active after some type of medical procedure. (Evans, 2004) Patients with chronic diseases can benefit from AAS use. Doctors are able to have access to these drugs and prescribe them to patients who can use them to combat or treat certain illnesses. Patients who suffer from muscle wasting due to HIV, burns, or kidney failure can use AAS to help rebuild muscle in their bodies. Other patients who suffer from medical issues such as certain types of cancer, anorexia, hepatic failure can use anabolic androgenic steroids in order to stimulate muscle growth and weight gain due to their medical complications resulting in immense weight loss. (Basaria, 2001) Medical patients who have weight gain issues or malnourishment issues can benefit from AAS supplementation. The ability of anabolic androgenic steroids to produce lean muscle mass at an expedited rate and help patients gain weight is very beneficial to patients with these issues. A six-month study shows that nine out of ten subjects who were malnourished and under-weight to an unhealthy extent were able to gain weight through the supplementation of AAS. The subjects who participated were even free of known side effects and had no further medical complications because of proper administration of AAS to the subjects. (Ferriera, 1998) With proper supervision, prescription, and administration of AAS to medical patients, the drugs can be used effectively to combat or treat certain medical issues. Patients who struggle with medical complications that result in muscle wasting or difficulty of gaining weight or drastic weight loss can use AAS to gain weight or rebuild muscle tissue. The biggest benefit of medically prescribed AAS to patients can be used to combat muscle wasting related to HIV. 

Use and supplementation of anabolic androgenic steroids is prevalent amongst professional athletes, amateur and professional bodybuilders, and even the common fitness enthusiast. AAS over the years has gained intense popularity and continues to grow as a relevant factor in the majority of sports federations and leagues. Since AAS has such increasing popularity amongst athletes and common people its place as an illegal, street drug is also increasing quickly. All sorts of people who use anabolic androgenic steroids are attracted to the drug because of its ability to expedite lean muscle growth and enhancing the athletic ability of users. Most common users of AAS tend to cycle the use the drugs for certain number of weeks at a time, then take a few weeks off from the drugs in order to avoid the adverse side effects related to AAS use. Serious abusers use the drugs consistently with little to no breaks from usage of AAS. This intense and non-complacent use of anabolic androgenic steroids results in an increased risk of the side effects related to the use of the drug. AAS can be prescribed legally by a doctor and supplemented properly when supervised by a medical professional. The medical field has proper and beneficial uses for AAS for patients. Patients who suffer from medical problems that result in muscle wasting can use proper anabolic androgenic steroids to help stimulate new muscle growth. Other patients who struggle with medical issues that lead to intense weight loss or struggle to gain weight can use AAS to help boost their testosterone levels which increase the body’s ability to gain weight and produce muscle. Anabolic which means “to build up” is properly used in the term of anabolic androgenic steroids because in cases of patients who suffer from muscle wasting due to the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) can effectively supplement AAS in order to combat the effects of the disease. Most users of AAS do not have medical issues or complications in which require a prescription from doctors. In return abusers of AAS obtain the drugs illegally through the black market or “dark” net. Without proper administration, the use of anabolic androgenic steroids can destroy the health of users. Improper usage can lead to detrimental side effects to the physical, mental, and emotional health of abusers. Physically, users who are male can develop the enhancement of their breasts, shrinking of the testicles, or even cancer and damage to organs such as the kidney or liver. Female users can have male pattern baldness, disruption of the menstrual cycle, or deepening of the voice. 

All users of AAS can have side effects that deteriorate their mental health which can result in intense mood swings, depression, or a common side effect known as “roid rage” which results in sudden increases in aggression. Many users who stop using the drugs can go into deep depressions and suffer from intense physical withdrawals. Most users of anabolic androgenic steroids can find themselves becoming increasingly more dependent on the drugs and may begin to develop addictive qualities. Until AAS use has become legal in sports professions many users will continue to obtain these drugs through illegal means. Anabolic Androgenic Steroids can cause extremely detrimental and dangerous side effects to the users. These side effects can be effectively controlled when properly prescribed and supplemented by a medical professional. The adverse side effects related to AAS use is extremely dangerous to users unless properly administered by a doctor.
