Steroids and the average joe

Brooke Correia, a spokesperson for the International Health, Racquet and Sportsclub Association, a Boston-based group that represents many health clubs across the country, says gyms aren't seeing a problem.

"From our perspective, it's really a non-issue," she says. "There's no indication there's a systematic problem among regular gym members. It's just not something from our perspective that we've seen."

Easy to obtain
Steroid use is certainly less out in the open today than in the past, according to Kersey. "You used to go in the hard-core body-building clubs and the needles would be in the trash can," he says.

That kind of things isn't so likely to happen now, he says, especially in the mainstream health clubs that cater to a diverse clientele.

But steroids aren't hard to find, says Jay Hoffman, professor and chair of the department of health and exercise science at the College of New Jersey in Ewing and vice-president of the National Strength and Conditioning Association, a leading group that certifies personal trainers.

"If one is interested in taking steroids, they just have to find the right person in the gym to get them," such as some body-builders and even trainers, he says. Steroids are also available over the Internet and across the border in Mexico, he notes.

No quick fix
But men should not think that steroids are a quick fix, says Bryant. It's not like Jack and the Beanstalk, where all a man needs to do is take some "magic beans and he'll grow," he says. Results only come with intensive weight training.

Grasso says a better understanding of how to properly strength train to get desired physical results could help cut down on steroid abuse. It's a message he emphasizes when he speaks to kids around the country about the dangers of steroids.

Steroid use has been linked to a range of side effects including severe acne, shrunken testicles, 'roid rage, liver tumors and heart troubles. But some people who take steroids tend to downplay the risks, experts say.

"There is clear evidence that you greatly increase your risk for all of these things and what you choose to be is a guinea pig," Bryant says.

Athletes who take steroids generally cycle on and off the drugs, taking them for a period of 10 weeks, for example, followed by a 10-week break, says Hoffman. They also may avoid the drugs during much of the off-season. This can help cut down — but not totally eliminate — side effects.

But recreational exercisers who thrive on the look that steroids helps them achieve may be very reluctant to take a break, making matters worse. They may also experiment with greater and greater doses in hopes of achieving bigger and bigger muscles.

"It's like a narcotic," says Chuck Kimmel, head athletic trainer at Austin Peay State University in Clarksville, Tenn., and president of the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

Steroid users can become psychologically addicted to the muscle definition they achieve with the help of the drugs, he says.

But the price they may pay can be steep, emphasizes Bryant.

"They're playing Russian roulette with their health."

Smart Fitness appears the second Tuesday of each month.

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