What Are Steroids?

1. Dominic has baseball on the brain. Just being good isn't enough — he wants to be the best. He dreams of playing in the majors someday, but worries about the intense competition for a position on a major league team. • Deborah, is a highly competitive athlete whose appearance and performance are very important to her. She wants to stand out — both physically and athletically.

2. Because of the pressure they each feel to excel, Dominic and Deborah wonder whether steroids would help them. They've heard rumors about the bad side effects of steroids, but they don't have many facts. Here's the scoop on steroids.

3. What Are Steroids? • "Steroids" has more than one meaning. Your body naturally produces some steroids, to help you fight stress and grow bigger. (But your body knows just the right amount that you need, so there's no need to take any extra.) There's also a type of medicine called steroids that people might take if they have pain, asthma, or a skin problem. But these aren't the kind of steroids getting attention in sports.

4. You may have heard steroids called roids, juice, hype, or pump. Anabolic steroids are artificially produces hormones that some athletes use as a way to boost athletic performance and build muscle and body mass. They work by acting like the body's natural man hormone, testosterone.

5. Hormones are special chemicals your body makes to help it do certain things - like grow up or burn the sugar!

6. How Do Anabolic Steroids Work? • Anabolic steroids stimulate muscle tissue to grow and "bulk up" in response to training by mimicking the effect of naturally produced testosterone on the body. Anabolic steroids can remain in the body anywhere from a couple of days to about a year. Steroids have become popular because they may improve endurance, strength, and muscle mass. However, research has not shown that steroids improve skill, agility, or athletic performance.

7. Know the risks • Acne, really bad acne, especially on face and back • Baldness • A slow down of growth in athletes who aren't done growing yet • High blood pressure, unhealthy cholesterol changes, and heart disease • Blood clots and stroke • Liver damage, jaundice, or liver cancer • Headaches, aching joints, and muscle cramps • Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea • Sleep problems • Increased risk of ligament and tendon injuries, which can end your athletic career for good

8. dizziness • mood swings, including anger, aggression, and depression • seeing or hearing things that aren't there (hallucinations) • extreme feelings of mistrust or fear (paranoia)

9. Better safe than sorry! • Anabolic steroids are illegal and are banned by professional sports organizations and medical associations. If an athlete is caught using steroids, his or her career can be destroyed. • When it comes right down to it, harming your body or getting disqualified aren't smart ways to try to improve your athletic performance.

10. If you are serious about your sport and your health, you do not need drugs to prove yourself. Instead, keep yourself healthy by: • Training safely, without drugs • Eating a healthy diet • Getting plenty of rest • Setting realistic goals (Be proud of yourself when you reach your goals!) • Getting training, coaching, and advice from reliable professionals • Playing safely and using protective gear • Talking with your parents or doctor about your health and nutrition, and how to prevent injuries and gain strength safely

11. What Are These Steroids that Doctor’s Prescribe? • These are different. Corticosteroids, such as cortisone, often referred to as “Steroids” are drugs that doctors typically prescribe to help control inflammation in the body. They're often used to help control conditions like ASTHMA and ALLERGIES. They're not the same as the anabolic steroids and they don’t have the hormone testosterone in them. Therefore they don’t have the same risks.

12. Different Forms of Corticosteroids • Nasal Sprays • Inhalers • Pills • Liquid for intravenous use They help people with sneezing, itchy eyes, open their lungs and help them breathe better. They also can save lives if a person develops a severe allergic reaction to certain things or have a bad asthma attack and can’t breathe we use corticosteroids to save them.

13. What does the bible say about steroids? • Cheating/stealing • Our body is the temple of God • Relying on drugs to help us versus God • Addiction

14. Stealing/Cheating • Did you know by using steroids you are stealing something you didn’t work for? • What did the bible say about those who steal? • “Thou shall not steal” Ex 20:15 • “Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards … will inherit the kingdom of God” 1Cor 6:10

15. We Are the Temple of God “Do you know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” 1Cor 3:16 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” 1Cor 6:19 So where will God live; in a healthy or a sick temple?

16. People rely on Steroids to help them win. • Who should we rely on to bless our hard work? • God

17. It is an addiction which means….. • God’s children are FREE • “All things are lawful for me……… under the power of any” 1Cor 6:12 • “Therefore if the son makes you free you shall be free indeed” John8:36