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08/06/09
Have you ever noticed the anti-steroid crusade often propagated by the media and other anti-drug organizations? The “this is your brain on drugs” campaign was perhaps the most memorable anti-drug campaign of all time, but the anti-steroid hints have been more subtle and underhanded. The great Lyle Alzado, NFL player and macho man extraordinaire, blamed steroid use for his cancer. We’ve all heard a great deal about how steroids will turn you into an uncontrollable animal, turning green and throwing cars into the air at the drop of a hat. The tales of shrinking genitals also permeate steroid talk. Most people believe steroid users are angry, violent lugs.
Perhaps we would see less of these campaigns, if bodybuilders themselves didn’t often use the ‘steroid defense’ to get themselves out of legal trouble. We’ve seen many instances of a bodybuilder who will beat up his girlfriend or assault someone in traffic, and attribute their lack of self-control to the drugs they were illegally taking. In some cases, it is actually natural bodybuilders using this defense! They believe a jury will swallow the hype about steroids being evil, and blame the drugs for the defendant’s behavior. It rarely works, but it has worked in some instances. There have been situations where juries either completely acquitted a defendant, or at the very least reduced his sentence to drug counseling, because they believed it was the fault of the drugs (in this case steroids) that the crime was committed. This is akin to blaming the Ford F-150 truck for a DUI arrest. The truck didn’t cause the driver to drink a dozen beers then get behind the wheel and barrel home at 90 mph. Yet many drunk drivers blame their vehicle.
Reuters covered a study recently out of Florida State which, to perpetuate this folklore further, actually made the connection between the use of artificial testosterone, and violent acts. Of course, we all know that artificial testosterone is going to raise one’s aggression. Part of the reason individuals choose steroids is because they want to be more aggressive in the gym. The study showed that over a period of almost a decade, the men who used steroids were more likely to be involved with violent crimes of some kind, than their sedentary non-training partners.
This may prove that steroids turn calm people into violent jerks. Or it may just show that jerks that become more aggressive are going to become – surprise! – bigger jerks! The key responsibility of steroid users – and even natural bodybuilders as well – is to treat their added strength, size, and aggressiveness as a responsibility. It is something that should be used for positive purposes, not to inflict pain or embarrassment upon the smaller of people in society. Doing so will lead to a continued perpetuation of the “roid rage” perception. This will lead to tighter laws on AAS and even pro-hormones. If every steroid user in America suddenly took on a positive mental attitude, perceptions – and the ensuing laws – just might change!
