| The baseball season is about to begin, and once again, | | | | looking for short cuts and quick fixes. Steroids are an |
| steroid use is dominating the sports news in the print | | | | example of another of the appeal of immediate |
| media and in the electronic media. I have counseled | | | | solutions to life problems. |
| many athletes who have used steroids or | | | | 6 .Some athletes enjoy living on the edge and pushing |
| performance enhancing substances and I have helped | | | | themselves to the limit. Engaging in risky steroid use |
| a number of them to end this destructive and illegal | | | | and the possibility of being caught create a kind of |
| behavior. | | | | adventure which some people seem to enjoy. |
| In my view, there are a number of psychological, | | | | 7. In some cases, athletes who have been on top in |
| sociological, financial and cultural forces which are | | | | their sport can not seem to tolerate losing or being out |
| driving steroid use: | | | | of the number one position. Steroids can help them to |
| 1. Some athletes are quite frightened and insecure. | | | | remain on top and avoid the bad feelings they |
| They are afraid of performing poorly, letting others | | | | experience when they perform poorly. They feel they |
| down and embarrassing themselves.They feel that | | | | will keep their star status as long as they perform well. |
| steroids will give them the edge they need to perform | | | | If they perform poorly, they are fearful that they will no |
| at a very high level. | | | | longer be loved and admired. |
| 2. Some athletes are very invested in the size of their | | | | 8. The people who develop these substances are |
| muscles as well as the shape and appearance of their | | | | getting very sophisticated and it is getting harder to |
| bodies. If they don't look big and powerful, they can | | | | detect practices like blood doping and some |
| feel unsafe and weak. Also, in their minds, if they are | | | | performance enhancing substances. |
| bigger, they are somehow better than the persons | | | | 9. Some athletes who I have counseled are addicted |
| they are competing against. | | | | to steroids, alcohol, and other drugs. They are relying |
| 3. The huge financial rewards can encourage people | | | | on these substances to manage their feelings, their |
| to cheat with performance enhancing drugs. Some | | | | problems and their stress. Athletes who are using all of |
| athletes feel the rewards make the risks worthwhile. | | | | these substance are in danger and need professional |
| 4. Coaches, owners, league officials and teammates | | | | help. |
| have looked the other way where steroid use is | | | | 10. There is a widespread and prevalent culture of |
| concerned. And, in some instances, they have | | | | cheating which is prevalent in sports, business and |
| encouraged players to engage in this drug use. A | | | | relationships. I am not sure if this is new or if cheating |
| football player who was a patient of mine what told | | | | has been widespread throughout history. Some would |
| that he needed to gain twenty pounds of muscle | | | | say that man has looked for advantages and edges |
| during the summer. His coach winked at him and said, | | | | since the beginning of time. |
| "You need to do it, no matter what it takes, if you | | | | However, I do believe that sports, coaches, athletes |
| want to play on my team." If there were stricter rules | | | | and society will be better off, if we control steroid use |
| and more severe penalties, steroid use would decline. | | | | and restore as much honesty and integrity as we can |
| 5. We live in a culture where people are always | | | | into our society. |
