6A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2005
STEROID USE
$3 Admission at the Hyatt Regency 400 W. Waterman - Wichita Questions? Contact Liane at (316) 371-0024
"You get to be really aggressive," Barber said. You have to be careful and channel your energy because when you are on steroids, you feel like you could lift the world, he explained.
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 5A
Brandon insists the mood swings and bouts of aggression aren't as bad as people make them out to be.
"It's more of an irritation," he said, "When someone cuts you off in traffic, you get a hell of a lot more pissed off than normal."
A hypothesis mentioned in the National Institute of Drug Abuse's research report claims that the increase in aggression is not because of the steroid abuse.
but because users have been influenced by media coverage of steroid rage. The researchers theorize abusers use steroids as an excuse to act in a more aggressive manner.
This pseudopsychological effect of steroids is a concept that Josh Magaha, fitness manager at the Student Fitness Recreation Center, agrees with.
Users stack two or more steroids to work through the body's different mechanisms and enhance the desired outcome. Touchberry explained. Many steroid abusers take an anti-estrogen agent throughout their cycle, increasing its dosage toward the end, to ward off the body's increased estrogen resulting from the excessive steroid intake.
High levels of estrogen in a male's body can cause soft feminine breast tissue to develop. Nicknamed "bitch tits," gynecomastia is one of the most undesirable side effects of steroid abuse.
High levels of estrogen in a male's body can cause soft feminine breast tissue to develop. Nicknamed "bitch tits," gynaecomastia is one of the most undesirable side effects of steroid abuse. Barber remembers getting nickel-sized knots in his nipple
"Steroids have a giant placebo effect," he said.
A simple mental shift and a high-intensity workout can result in muscle gains, he said.
Men and women who abuse steroids typically stack the drugs. Commonly referred to as a cocktail, a stacked steroid regime could consist of drugs such as dianabol, winstrol and progesterone, but it totally depends on the desired outcome, Magaha said.
But he's seen enough people on steroids to know the difference. In the beginning they look flat and dry, he said, but when they begin the cutting phase, steroid abusers dehydrate themselves so that the skin will pull tight against the muscles.
area while he was cycling on and off steroids during his competitive years. Typically, users take the anti-estrogen to avoid its development; Barber said.
Along with stacking the steroids, users must cycle on and off the drugs for them to be effective, Barber said. Touchberry explained that a typical cycle ranged anywhere
from four to 18 weeks, but users must remain off the steroid for one month to a year. Cycling ensures that the receptors to which the steroids bind are still sensitive and able to react to the steroid, Touchberry said.
Cycling, stacking, working out and eating right are all part of the steroid user's culture. Albrecht believes steroid culture is just like any drug culture, developing from the mixture of certain groups of people in specific environments, she said.
Ex-athletes, bouncers or people who frequent the gym are exposed to this atmosphere and can become entranced by it. Both Matt and Brandon began their steroid abuse as people around them were experimenting with the drugs.
Matt said steroid use was so rampant in his high school, he just joined in. Although he only put on 10 pounds in his six-week cycle, his body leaned out by dropping significant body fat and his self-confidence soared.
The bouncers Brandon worked with influenced him to start abusing steroids. Initially, he thought of it as something to do with his friends, but he began to see results and since he started, his weight has increased from 185 to 260 pounds.
But Magaha insists that there are other reasons people begin taking steroids. Of course sports enhancement is one reason, he said, but people who are not satisfied with their bodies, people who want to get bigger for a sense of security and people who like the attention a great physique can bring are all at risk for steroid abuse, he said.
The steroid drug culture also makes it easy for users to obtain their preferred steroid.
Barber said users bought their steroids on the black market just like someone would buy recreational drugs. Some guy at the gym always knew where to get them and how to use them, Barber said.
Sean Edinger, a strength trainer in the Lawrence area, said many dealers head to Mexico to get pharmaceutical grade steroids.
Either that, or "You can get them by convincing certain doctors or vets to prescribe them. It's against their Hippocratic oath, but some will do it," he said.
While Matt bought his steroids from close friends, Brandon opted to shop online. A simple Google search reveals hundreds of Web sites pedding steroids. The problem with choosing just any site, Brandon said, is that people try to scam your money. He heads to chat rooms centered on bodybuilding and working out. They give him advice on which sites are legit and which sites to stay away from.
It is advice that has guided both Brandon and Barber while on steroids. The steroid culture is full of advice; advice as to what steroids to buy, where
An e-mail was sent out to more than KU students regarding steroid abuse. Here is how they responded:
1. Have you ever taken anabolic staroids?
Yes: 6.12%
No: 93.88%
2. Do you know anyone who has taken steroids?
Yes: 53.06%
No: 46.94%
3. If so, do you know why they took them?
Improve body image:
31.25%
Athletic enhancement:
37.50%
Get tougher:
20.83%
Recover from injury:
10.42%
4. Do you believe that the risk factors for steroid use are as serious as reported?
Yes: 69.39%
No: 12.24%
Maybe: 18.37%
5. Do you believe that steroids should be illegal?
Yes: 55.10%
No: 32.65%
Maybe: 12.24%
6. Do you feel the non-athlete should be restricted on steroid intake?
Yes: 48.98%
No: 30.61%
Maybe: 20.41%
Source: E-mail survey of more than 200 random individuals
to buy them, how to use them and how not to get caught. But with all the focus on the professional and collegiate athletes, the threat of prosecution is not a serious one, and the everyday steroid abuse continues as men and women put their future bodies in jeopardy for their perfect bodies today.
Edited by Jonathan Kealing
呼