Making a Smart Decision on Steroid Use

Title of Speech: making a smart decision on steroid use

Purpose statement: To persuade athletes to not use steroids

INTRODUCTION

I. Opening

If there’s one thing a lot of people value these days, it’s a powerful looking body. And if you are an athlete, you want to make that body as powerful as it can be. So if an athlete wants to add some muscle, what can they do? Well, they can work out, or they can inject some anabolic steroids. Steroids can bring quick benefits to anyone who wants to build up their physique. But in the long run, those benefits can soon be overcome by the risks.

II. Link to the audience

As I look around I can tell a number of you are or at some point were athletes, whether it was in high school or now in current activities. Therefore you understand how there is a constant need to be bigger and stronger than your opponents. This is when the use of steroids comes into play for some athletes that feel as if they need an edge with their size or strength. You may have even unknowingly competed against these athletes that abused steroids.

III. Speaker credibility statement

In the following I will share with you why steroid abuse is both unfair and unhealthy. I have often done countless hours of research on the negative side effects of steroid abuse, as well as competed against athletes whom abused anabolic steroids.

IV. Statement of central idea and preview

According to the national institute of drug abuse, anabolic steroids are abused to change ones physical appearance and performance. These effects of steroids can boost confidence and strength leading the abuser to overlook the potential serious long-term damage that these substances can cause. I shall begin with the negative consequences of abusing steroids. Then, I will proceed to explain laws and penalties for steroid abuse. Finally I will go over what can be done to stop steroid abuse.

Transition Statement: Let us start with the negative consequences of steroid abuse.

BODY

In these days of increasingly competitive behavior athletes look for a quick fix to gain an edge on their competition. Unfortunately the most common solution athletes find is using anabolic/ androgenic steroids. According to drugfreeaz.com these are performance enhancing drugs that synthetically mimic testosterone which is a hormone greatly produced by males, that is responsible for muscle growth.

I. Unfortunately these performance enhancing drugs have numerous negative side effects, both physical and psychological. According to the DEA’s office of diversion and control most of the short term side effects are fairly more well know than the long term side effects, many of which are irreversible.

A. Major side effects can include liver tumors and cancer, yellowing of the skin, high blood pressure, kidney tumors, severe acne, and trembling. Along with increases in bad cholesterol levels and decreases in good cholesterol levels.

B. Some psychological effects include mood swings, increase in feelings of hostility and aggressive behavior.

C. In males, side effects may include shrinking of the testicles, breast development, and baldness.

D. In females, side effects may include growth of facial hair, menstrual changes, and deepened voice.

E. In teenagers, growth may be halted prematurely and permanently.

Transition statement: Along with having numerous negative side effects, anabolic steroids have all kinds of laws and penalties for any type of abuse.

II. Federal law has put anabolic steroids as part of the controlled substances act as of February 7th, 1991.

A. The possession or sale of anabolic steroids without a valid prescription is illegal.

1. Possession of illegally obtained steroids has a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a minimum fine of $1,000 if it is ones first offense.

2. The maximum penalty for trafficking is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if this is the individual’s first felony drug offense. If this is the second felony drug offense, the maximum time in prison and the maximum fine both double.

3. Although this is all for federal offenses, most states