Steroids: It can't be black and white.

As I was watching this video, a list of questions flowed into my head. Why are all of these stories glorifying steroids? What constitutes a healthy male? How many studies have been conducted on this? What about that horror story about Greg Valentino on TLC ? Isn't there always another side? Although it may come across as ignorant, I’ve always associated the word bad with steroids. However, i realize there are certain medical drugs that can relieve symptoms that have steroids in them, which are certainly not detrimental. Why dont people rely on working out and eating healthy to get buff? Isn't there a natural way to do this, that doesn't involve ending up looking like a huge leathery, bumpy, waxy form?

That's a lot of questions. The fallacy of the arguments presented in the video is that there was no argument. The individuals questioned claimed steroids to have no bad long term effects, and that they were great as long as you used precaution, and are a "healthy adult male". If this is true, why would there be people going to court against steroids? Why is the president making statements about steroid use in sports? I dont think he would be against a simple side effect like "some acne and breast tenderness". Heck, i'd be up for something if that was the only side effect. Something had to have stunted the idea that steroids are bad.

Maybe steroids can be used responsibly, if someone is old enough is willing to take the chances. I do not see steroid use (for sports atleast) as acceptable or healthy for people in high school, and possibly even college. So many people overdose on drugs, and i can see this happening with steroids. How many people are not careful with steroids and over-do it? It seems like plastic surgery to me. That's an addiction to many, and it can cause serious side effects, like death. You can get infections from this, you could die.

I think the video i watched should be contrasted with the one on the bottom of this post: It shows my instinctive idea that steroids are detrimental.

Athletes and Steroids:
The UIL Anabolic Steroid Testing Program seems a little invasive to me. Going to schools and testing kids in grades 9-12 for steroid use? This is scary to me. The idea that kids can't be trusted anymore, and that they have to be tested for drugs at school. What's next, giving girls pregnancy tests? I'm not saying i'm against this, because i see where it could be handy. If high school kids are using steroids, i think they have a higher chance of developing life-threatening problems with them than some adults would. They may not see the long-term effects, and may be more concerned with getting buff for their crush. There should be different standards for high school vs. professional sports. High schools should not accept steroid use at all. Professional sports could allow it in certain circumstances, since it is the person’s choice. It's really hard to decide on this issue because I do see steroid use as a form of cheating, and would prefer it only used for medical reasons.
For the most part, i agree with Hoberman that "steroid use is an expected manifestation our culture's demand to be the best rather than merely do our best" Standards are set unusually high in our culture, and to reach those standards takes a lot of time and effort. When there's an easy way out, people grab it. Children look up to athletes, and these athletes shouldn't be frauds. Athletes should be healthy, and should work hard without using anabolic steroids to get where they want to.

If such drugs like these weren’t so easily accessible would this even be an issue?