You, Me And Performance Enhancing Drugs: The Truth

It’s hard to find a single person in America who hasn’t heard of performance enhancing drugs and the controversy that surrounds them.

With their use in the NBA, MLB and NFL over the last decade, it is safe to say that they have become a part of mainstream American sports like portugal vs ireland highlights culture. But while they may be a part of sports culture, there are still many unanswered questions about what people who take PEDs actually experience during play time. Sure, everyone knows who takes them and why they take them – but nobody knows what it feels like to actually consume these illegal substances for the purposes of winning or career advancement.

Truth about Performance Enhancing Drugs are:

1. There are numerous people who have tried out the drugs

As much as people would like to pretend otherwise, there are many people who have already tried enhancing their performance with drugs. In fact, as many as 1.1% of high school seniors have used steroids at least once in a collegiate gym or training facility. No matter how you look at it, there are a lot of people who have taken steroids, HGH or some other performance enhancing drug. Some of them had a great experience while others didn’t.

2. It’s not what most people think it is

The idea that PED use gives you extra powers is a misconception that has been perpetuated for years by the media and movies. While there are some instances where it feels like this is true, the reality is that you don’t actually get any more powerful than normal (though at times you can feel like you do). In a worldwide survey conducted by the PED users themselves, they found that physical side effects were either nonexistent or mild.

3. Winning matters the most

A lot of people assume that PEDs will make you a better player but in truth it is about mental preparedness that makes the difference. This is largely because of how the muscles and joints respond to PED use. But even if you feel like you are awake for every big play and adrenaline shot, this isn’t always true (at least not for everyone).

4. The downsides are stronger than the upsides

The one thing that everyone who has tried PEDs wants to forget is the nervousness or anxiety that sometimes accompanies their use. Admittedly, there are times when you feel like you have super powers but they never last long. While you may feel like you are on top of the world and that every play is right in your hands, that isn’t always the case. As is typical with any drug, there are many negative side effects that come with taking PEDs.

5. For some people, it just doesn’t work

There are a lot of people who are on PEDs by choice. Some people just want to improve in their sports and some people just haven’t had the opportunity. Truth is you can put up all the physical and mental preparation in the world but if your body isn’t going to respond positively to a substance then there is nothing much you can do about it (unless you have a lot of money to burn). 

6. PEDs can get expensive

While you may think that a PED program is cheap, this isn’t always the case. Sure your trainer may be willing to take care of all the necessary paperwork for you but you may have to pay for some of the substances that are in it. While there are several ways to get PEDs, some of them aren’t exactly cheap. In fact, it could cost you a pretty penny and that is only if you can rely on the people who are trying to sell them to you.

7. It doesn’t matter if other people think it’s okay or not

If you are taking a substance that makes you feel good and helps bring out your inner best and someone else has an issue with it then they have a problem – not you. Whether they have a personal agenda or they just don’t understand, the bottom line still stands: Their problem is their problem and not yours. 

8. There are different kinds

There are several varieties of PEDs that can help you with your performance. Some of them have been around since the days of the early Native Americans while others are post-modern and have only been available for a short time period.

Conclusion:

After conducting this survey, we have found that there are many different types of thoughts and opinions about PEDs. But the one thing that everyone can agree on is that it’s not what most people think it is (especially when you take into account the negative side effects).

For a moment, assume that you could go back in time before the advent of PEDs and knowing what you know now, would you have tried them? Do you think that the pros outweigh the cons or do they even compare at all?

It’s easy to say no because there are so many things out there that help us enhance our performance without resorting to illegal drugs – as much as we want to avoid them.