Running Head: Abusing Anabolic Steroids

Abusing Anabolic Steroids

Steven Velazquez
UTEP
RWS 1301
9-27-14
Ms. Grado

Abusing Anabolic Steroids

Abusing Anabolic Steroids

The use of anabolic steroids has increased a significant amount in not only professional
athletes but high school athletes as well. Even though not all the side effects and dangers that are
prone to happen are known, athletes do not hesitate to use steroids because they only care about
improving their performance. Many athletes have just fallen into trying to be the best, and not
focusing on the actual sport and just being closed-minded on anabolic steroids. The article
Anabolic Steroid Use discusses some of the more popular types of steroids and the effects that
can occur if these drugs are misused. It provides not only a great point of view from a more
professional side to prove a point to adults but also a way that could potentially grab a younger
athletes attention. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIH) is not trying to convince athletes
not to use drugs but to inform the harmful effects that come with the use of anabolic steroids.
NIH uses several strategies to try and convey their argument and does a great job using the
different types of rhetoric.
Many studies and reports have been done on anabolic steroids , highlighting some factors and
side effects that come along with the use of these drugs not only raising awareness within some
students but mainly parents who may be concerned with their childs health. In the article the
author uses pathos to try and evoke an emotion of caution with their childs well-being with all
the effects that can occur if their child falls under steroid abuse. No parent wants to think of their
child being depressed, yet alone committing suicide due to steroid use withdrawal. This is an
effective statement because not only does it spark fear in a potential parent that could be reading
the article, but it would make a parent want to monitor their kids action throughout their young
years as an athlete. The article also states that an athletes thought of their body or performance
not being good enough and them wanting to change that because of their own self-image. This is

Abusing Anabolic Steroids

a great example of pathos because not only is it saying that if an athlete does not seem
themselves in a positive way not only physically but mentally they could turn to the use of
steroids. Most adolescent athletes look up too professional athletes as role models and if they see
that their favorite athlete is relying on steroids to enhance their performance, they get the feeling
they need to do the exact same thing, sending a damaging message in our society (Volkow,
2006, p. 1). This perceives an emotion that brings down their own level of confidence that theyll
never reach that level without the use of steroids. Getting teachers, parents, and coaches involved
and active about steroids can change the thoughts of not only pro athletes but adolescent athletes
as well. Dr. Volkow does a decent job using pathos to appeal to older readers on how steroids
can affect their young athletes.
Having facts, stats, and charts can really help give a reader a visual about what he or she
is reading and can help convince or make a point clear throughout a reading. In this article the
author uses logos to try and convey different ways that anabolic steroids can be harmful to
athletes and abusers. Not only are several of statements backed up with facts, the author chose
some ideas to stick to and did not seem to change their views on them. One thing the author did
not do was put into thought that some anabolic steroids could specifically be used for medicinal
purposes as far as strengthening failing organs in sick patients, or other ways and not just for
improved performances. The fact that the author completely leaves this out catches attention in
that the article is strictly focusing on the abuse of steroids. A good use of logos in the article is
that it lists some of the common side effects of steroid abuse such as heart attacks, strokes, liver
tumors, and kidney failure (Volkow, 2006, p. 1). Some of these symptoms have been known to
change the way a person feels and acts can also be tied in trying to appeal to pathos as well as
logos. In trying to prove that steroid use amongst high schools is increasing rather than

Abusing Anabolic Steroids

decreasing is a main topic throughout the article and is backed up with various types of facts.
According to Volkow (2006), less than 4% of the Nations high schools test their athletes for
steroids (p. 10) and this is unacceptable when trying to prevent steroid use from starting at a
young age.
Although not that many forms of ethos were used in the segment, the author did have
some mention several studies that are credible for trying to reduce the number of young athletes
that fall under the abuse of steroids. Dr. Volkow states that with just researchers simply teaching
students about steroids effects does not convince adolescents that they can be adversely
affected. (Volkow, 2006, p. 10) This shows that just because they have expertise on the subject
does not mean that they can easily convince athletes not to use anabolic steroids. There are
programs that have been known to offer and show effective results within high schools that
appeal to ethos. ATLAS is a program that shows high school football players that there are other
methods to gain muscle rather than having to rely on anabolic steroids. The article does not have
many examples of ethos as it tends to appeal more to logos due to the facts that are provided and
pathos because of all the efforts on showing what can happen if steroids are abused.
Response to the Communication Practices of Discourse Community
The article I chose was what I though a very useful source because not only did it cover
certain points of my topic, but it was also very useful on depicting the different forms of rhetoric.
The article was actively 13 pages long and was filled with substantial text and charts with a
handful of information. The thesis of the article is located amongst the first page and it states the
reason of the article and why it was written. The author hopes that people will come together and
be aware of the different effects of anabolic steroids.

Abusing Anabolic Steroids

Throughout the article English is the only language being used because it is preeminent
within the discourse community which involves not only athletes but the friends and family of
said athletes. I believe that the article I chose makes not only me but other athletes aware of what
can happen if you abuse steroids in the sports world.

Abusing Anabolic Steroids

6
References

National Institute on Drug Abuse (2006). Letter From the Director. In Anabolic Steroid Abuse.
Retrieved from http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/anabolic-steroidabuse/letter-director