wenty two years old, single, one year away from graduation and my whole life ahead of me. All of this and I almost threw it all away. I was an average guy, I went to college, I had a part time job, I liked to mountain bike and work out.
You are probably asking yourself what is the problem? Well the problem was, I was an average guy. I went to the gym to work out four times a week. I was not always the smallest but I was not even close to being one of the biggest.
I found myself always wanting to be bigger and faster. I knew that there were a few guys at the gym who were taking and selling anabolic steroids and they were all big. They looked how I wanted to look, or at least how I thought I wanted to look.
Steroids are a man-made derivative of testosterone. Steroids are the drug of choice for performance enhancement in today's world of sports.
Testosterone was first used in the sporting arena by Russian weight lifters in the 1940-50's. Since then use of steroids has become mainstream encompassing nearly all sports. Steroids today are used by many young people who are in a hurry to reach maturity or by someone who does not like his or her physique.
I came across a guy who told me he could get anything I needed. He said he had used it all and his results were excellent. I was to give him money and he would then have the drug sent to my home in the mail. I was told it was coming from a country in Europe.
Although I was a little skeptical, I went ahead and gave him some money. I thought that nothing bad could happen to me; after all I was young and invincible. That thought process would prove to be one of the worst and best brain storms I haveever had.
The drug I chose to use was an anabolic steroid. It, along with androgenic, are the two most popular steroids used today. Anabolic refers to the ability of the steroids to build up muscle tissue. Steroids help muscles recuperate more quickly from exhaustion or injury. This allows users to train on a more frequent basis, and for a longer period of time.
Steroids do have many therapeutic purposes for which they are prescribed. However, the doses taken illegally are often ten to one hundred times greater the normal prescription.
Although, over the short term, the user may experience significantly larger gains, the longer termed effects are substantial. One of the most alarming is the threat contracting AIDS through the sharing of unclean needles amongst different users.
Although muscle mass is increased, many users do not realize that internal organs are muscles as well, which cannot take the strain of the increased dosage. Males who take large doses of Anabolic steroids typically experience changes in sexual characteristics.
Some possible side effects are: shrinkage of the testicles, reduced ejaculation, impotence, balding, difficulty in urinating, development of breasts and an enlarged prostate. So, with all these side effects in minds, one must ask himself the question: Is it really worth it?
Along with the physical problems, there are also mental reactions associated with the use of steroids. This drug becomes very addictive and damaging to the mind. It causes violent episodes which can have drastic legal implications. Users get so wrapped up psychologically thatthe negative effects become irrelevant.
A much used term for the violent episodes is "roid rage" or "roid mania". Along with these are wild aggressive, combative behavior, depression, listlessness and delusions. Steroids mentally destroy the brain's ability to reason.
All of these things could have happened to me but they did not. The reason for this is the steroids which were being mailed to me from another country were intercepted at the border by Canadian Customs. Canadian Customs then notified the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
Although the physical implications should be more then enough of a deterrent, there are as many legal implications.
The distribution of steroids is illegal in Canada. Many steroids sold in Canada are imported from countries where the flow of steroids is monitored as closely. Bringing a banned substance into Canada is considered trafficking under Canadian laws. Drug trafficking is the most serious drug charge which can be laid against the accused. When convicted, serious jail time is sentenced and your criminal record is permanently effected.
The reason I am able to share this story and information is due to a caring and yet tough investigating officer. I was approached by the officer and told I was under investigation for trafficking an illegal substance into Canada. I knew right away that I had been caught and there was no way out.
I was always taught as a child that a mistake is always made worse if you do not own up to it. I thought long and hard and decided to do just that. I told the RCMP that I would come clean and admitted my error in judgement. I was scared, I had no idea what was going to happen to me. I could not believe that all of this was happening to me. That is why I am sharing my story. No person is invincible or above the law. If you think, "it won't happen to me", think again.
It was after I was caught that I really began to research all of the implications of steroids. All of the research I compiled really opened my eyes to the possible dangers.
I did not think I would be caught by the police but I was. I also did not think I would be affected by any side effects. I am very thankful that I will never have the chance to find that out.
Although young people may think they are not susceptible to danger, anyone considering use of drugs of any kind is putting their life and future at risk. I was lucky and got a second chance. I thought that nothing bad could happen to me, after all, I was young and invincible. That thought process proved to be one of the worst and best brain storms I have ever had.
It was the worst because I saw how this could have affected my health. As for being the best, my eyes were opened. Hopefully by sharing this story, a young person reading this will decide not to take steroids. If I deter even one person from taking the wrong path, my experience is a positive one. I leave you with this thought; the high road is not always the easiest path to take but in the long run you will thank yourself for traveling it.