ALCOHOL
-causes brain damage
-can cause overdose
-causes hangovers
-makes users violent
-reduces inhibitions
-involved in 1/3 of domestic violence
- 80 000+ plus are killed each year as a result of it’s use
- highly addictive
- withdrawal can be fatal (delerium tremens)
MARIJUANA
- non-toxic
-amount required to overdose is impossible (about 1500 pounds is 10 minutes)
-does not give hangovers
-does not kill brain cells (try and prove me wrong, and no typical government websites)
- makes users happy and non-violent
- not addictive (unless sex, fast food, video games are addictive as well)
- no known deaths in it’s 10,000 years of use
- users are in full control
- is not a gateway drug
- many prominent and famous people use or have used it ( Michael Phelps, Barack Obama, George Clooney, Abraham Lincoln,Arnold Schwarzenegger, Neil Young, Friedrich Nietzsche, Bill Maher,)

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Anabolic steroids are mainly taken by professional bodybuilders in order to increase muscle mass and size and by other professional athletes who wish to enhance their athletic performance and reduce body fat. These physical and performance enhancing effects of steroid boost strength and confidence, leading abusers to ignore the potential long-term and often fatal damage that these substances can cause.

Teenagers typically start taking anabolic steroids in an attempt to emulate professional athletes whom they idolize. Persistent reports of professional athletes and the abuse of anabolic steroids inadvertently endorses its use and sends out a damaging message to the youth that bigger and faster is better and you do what it takes to become the best.

Abuse of anabolic steroids is also widespread among people who suffer from muscle dysmorphia, a behavioral syndrome that causes them to have a distorted image of their body. Typically, men with this condition think they look too weak and small and take steroids to increase the size of their muscles. Women who suffer from this condition mistakenly think they look flabby and fat and resort to taking steroids in an attempt to lose body fat.

Adverse effects of anabolic steroid abuse

While short term use of anabolic steroid has performance enhancing effects, inappropriate and long term use can cause a host of damaging effects, many of which are long lasting and irreversible. Some of the negative health consequences of anabolic steroid abuse include early heart attacks, kidney failure, strokes, serious physiatrist problems and liver tumors.

Another dangerous consequence of steroid abuse arises from the fact that steroids are typically injected into the body, increasing the risk of contracting HIV/AIDS or hepatitis B and C when needles are shared or non-sterile needles are used.

Effective treatment for anabolic steroid abuse

Effective treatment for abuse of anabolic steroid is largely based on providing supportive therapy and educating patients on the adverse effects of steroid abuse. Steroid abusers undergoing treatment are also educated on the severe withdrawal symptoms that can be expected and are routinely evaluated for suicidal thoughts. If symptoms are prolonged or severe, medications and sometimes hospitalization is needed.

Medications in steroid treatment largely deal with restoring the hormonal system that has been severely disrupted by steroid abuse and with treating specific withdrawal symptoms. Analgesics are given for relief from joint and muscle pain and headaches, and antidepressants may be prescribed to treat long-term and severe depression.