steroid abuse is generally defined as steroid use beyond a medical purpose. This means performance enhancing would be steroid abuse, even if the dose is kept low. Is simple performance enhancing steroid abuse? If a healthy adult male chooses to use a moderate dose of anabolics to aid in training and performance is he abusing steroids? By the wording of U.S. law, yes, there is little to distinguish him and someone who takes cocaine and lives in the gutter. Sounds harsh, true and it may be embellishing slightly but not by much. Defining steroid abuse can be difficult due to the nature of the drug; like most drugs there’s no euphoric feeling one chases, there’s not a pain relief factor and millions use them every year in the U.S. alone without any adverse health effects; so how do we truly define steroid abuse?

As mentioned, by wording of the law, the use of anabolics beyond a medical purpose is considered steroid abuse. There are some purposes for which the drugs can be used easily falling within “medical reason” however, many walk a fine line yet remain free from stigma. It is one of the few categories of drugs where the medical purpose can be somewhat misleading and in truth be very confusing. However, as it pertains to you, the individual who desires a boost in the gym or on the field, use is steroid abusebut if you get a prescription by wording of the law it’s no longer abuse. Kind of strange isn’t it; if you have the piece of paper you’re no longer a drug abuser, how this makes sense is beyond the smartest of us of all.

Granted, to receive the piece of paper there’s supposed to be a medical reason such as low testosterone or all-around hormone replacement therapy. This is one of the few scenarios available for most men enabling them to receive anabolics leally and freeing them from the label of steroid abuse. As we understand, declining testosterone levels are a part of life, as we age they inevitably decline. Due to the decline we can receive legal anabolics to combat this; however, the dose will not be in the performance enhancing range or what is often referred to as Supraphysiological doses.

Let’s acknowledge the truth; if you decide to use anabolics for performance enhancing purposes by law you are an abuser but in true functioning terms what defines abuse? If you risk your own health and safety or your own financial stability for a performance boost, absolutely, you fall into the steroid abuse camp. If you possess the ability to use anabolics responsibly, more as a steroidal program in conjunction with your training and diet and not as a crutch, most would view you as a responsible non abusing user. There are many countries around the world where such use is legal and accepted but very few sporting organizations.

As with all topics of anabolics it is important you obey the law of the land in-which you live, as well as maintain an adequate screening of your overall health. If you can use responsibly without risking your health and if you can do so legally, steroid abuse is not a phrase that will ever be a concern for you.

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