Unit 4 - Steroids What are Steroids?

Objectives Content Objective: The students will be able to analyze an article on steroids in order to determine what steroids are, how they are used and what the consequences of steroid use are by answering questions in complete sentences on a worksheet. Language Objective: The students will use the critical reading skills of highlighting, underlining and/or taking notes while reading an article in order to provide evidence that supports their answers to key idea, structure and integration of knowledge questions on a worksheet.

Article Assignment Complete the K (what do you already know) and the W (what do you want to know column on the last page of the article. Read the 3 page article entitled “What are Steroids?” on your own. Highlight, underline and/or comment on important information that you read Answer the article questions in complete sentences Make sure to support each of your answers with evidence (information) from the article. This assignment is worth 15 points. Point values are labeled next to each question. You need to turn in article that should be highlighted, underlined and/or have notes taken on it.

Anabolic Androgenic steroids Anabolic = Referring to muscle-building Androgenic = Increased male sexual characteristics What are anabolic steroids? A synthetic substance related to the male sex hormone, testosterone. Synthetic = Compounds formed through a chemical process

How Anabolic steroids began Anabolic steroids were created in the 1930s as a medication for a disease that causes not enough testosterone to be produced. Testosterone is needed for normal growth development. It was also during the 1930s that scientists discovered that anabolic steroids facilitate the growth of skeletal muscle and that it began being used by body builders and professional athletes.

How are steroids taken? Cream Steroid Creams are Prescribed for: Poison ivy, eczema, dermatitis Oral Oral Pill are Prescribed for: Anemia, Failure to Grow, Certain Types of Breast Cancer, Gain Weight due to certain illnesses Injection Injections are Prescribed For: Reduce inflammation in joints, Osteoarthritis, Tendonitis, Allergic Reactions

Reasons People Give for Taking Steroids… Improve athletic performance – Estimated to be less than 6% of athletes that use steroids Testing procedures are in place for collegiate, professional and Olympic athletes Increase Muscle Size/Reduce Body Fat – Typically used by people with body dysmorphia Pattern of Risk-Behavior – People who partake in other risky behaviors such as drinking and driving, other illicit drugs

Steroid testing Most commonly done through urine samples If the level of testosterone is found to be higher than what is considered “normal,” than the person fails the test Test the hair follicle Blood Sample -In the NFL, athletes are tested randomly 5 times per year at minimum -Estimated that in the United States about 6 million adults use steroids every year.

Anabolic Steroid Abuse Doses taken by abusers can be 10 to 100 times higher than doses for medical purposes.

Health consequences of steroids Musculoskeletal System When taken during adolescence it can prematurely signal the bones to stop growing More frequent tendon ruptures Cardiovascular System Associated with cardiovascular disease = heart attacks and strokes Increase risk for blood clots to form in blood vessels

Health consequences of steroids Cont. Liver Tumors and cysts which can rupture causing internal bleeding Cancer Infection May use non-sterile needles HIV Hepatitis B and C Bacterial Infection

Physical effects - Men Skin Hormonal Acne Oily skin/hair Infertility Breast Development Shrinking of Testicles Baldness Damages Male Reproductive System

Physical Effects – Female Skin Acne Oily skin/hair Hormonal Excessive growth of body hair Scalp Hair Loss Masculinization Decrease in breast size and body fat Voice Deepens Damages Female Reproductive System

Psychological Effects Delusions Rage/Aggression More likely to commit aggressive acts such as physical fighting, armed robbery, theft, vandalism, or burglary Termed “Roid Rage”

Jump Street 21 TV show How much is that body in the window episode Scene 1 - Ten Minutes Scene 3 - Ten Minutes

Homework for Debate next class Debate Question: It has been discovered that many professional athletes take steroids. Do you think athletes should have consequences for taking steroids? Do you have a different view if they are a high school, college or professional athletes? Homework: Find and write down 10 facts that support your side of the debate. Identify the source that your facts came from (Example: drugabuse.gov) These facts will be used to support your side during our in class debate next class Homework is worth 10 points **Due Dates: BE = 12/1 CF = 12/2 AD = 12/3