Steroids, Antidepressants and Puritanism: When Are You "Not You," And Who Really Cares?

An article in the Dallas Morning News on teen steroid use caught my eye because of a quote from an athletic trainer who says:

It's easy for someone to cheat and win. With steroids, you're tricking your body. You're creating something that's not you, and that's why you're cheating.

It's odd that we think the result of steroid use is the creation of a "fake" or "dishonest" physique, when our society is now thoroughly sold on the idea that the modification of an individual's brain chemistry with antidepressants and other drugs is a "normal" and "healthy" practice. It strikes me that the use of steroids is no more "artificial" or blameworthy than the use of SSRIs or other drugs that are commonly used to modify mental health, and yet we attach a tremendous moral stigma to modification of the body.

(Above: A wholesome drug. Photo from antiqueadvertising.com, photographer unknown.)

Underlying the rhetoric on steroids, as with much of our national discourse on drugs, there is a profound  and puritanical discomfort with the mere possibility that somebody could somehow live more easily or more pleasantly because of chemicals. It's fine if people use steroids to recover from an skiing injury so they can get back to work and behave like an ordinary person, but God forbid they should use any more steroids than necessary and thereby they become unusually strong or unusually powerful. That would be "wrong."

In the same way, it's fine if people use Prozac or Wellbutrin to feel "normal," and it's fine if they use Xanax to calm down before a speaking engagement and Ambien to sleep through the night, so long as the only point of using all these drugs is to facilitate their continued functioning as an unremarkable and well behaved citizen. But the moment a person starts using Xanax for fun, or crushing their ADD medication and snorting it for pleasure, we're seriously concerned.

The irascible journalist H.L Mencken famously noted that puritanism is "the haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be happy."  The truth of this proposition is rarely more clear than when it comes to our attitudes around the use of drugs.

Comments

[Steroid Media]

I can see the argument for "cheating" when steroids are used in a sport where they are banned substances.

But I never quite understood the "cheating" argument against steroid use for adults who were not involved in competitive sports.

The puritanical moralism is even more pronounced with steroids than with other drugs because of the morally disturbing eroticism associated with the steroid-enhanced muscularity.

[corey]

Hey, my name is Corey, and I am writing a paper about performance enhancing drugs for my English class. I completely agree that using steroids can simply be classified as cheating. It does not matter whether you get juiced to win an athletic competition, or you want to pursue a different physique. I do not understand how anyone can support enhancing drugs. I also found it interesting how you compared drugs like Prozac with steroid abuse. I think there is a notable difference however because emotional medications are internal. I understand the correlations you are drawing from these two examples, but I have to make the ageless point that "what's on the inside is what really counts." I hope I am not being biased or anything with my opinions. All I really know of performance enhancing drugs is what I see on CNN or ESPN. Those stories usually have names like Roger Clemens flashing all over the screen with accusations of steroid abuse and cheating. I suppose it's possible that I have the wrong impression about users. For now though, I still believe steroid users are "ignorant meatheads." In all seriousness, looks and athleticism only last for a short time compared to your entire life span. I think people should focus on more practical ways of making a living and a meaningful life. Stay in school guys.

steroids are awsome all u can suck it who dont try it

[Craig]

In accordance with free market principles I say that sports should simply have separate leagues/competitions, one where performance-enhancing drugs are strictly forbidden and one where you can pop whatever pills you like. The public will then choose which they want to watch, with the difference in advertising and ticket revenues dictating how much the athletes get paid.

[Antidepressants]

I believe there are so many depressed people in our society because they aren’t happy with themselves. There are so many outside pressures——including the ones we let in through the media etc., that we are bombarded with how we should act, feel , work, play and so on. Come on people—-forget the status quo!!!

[Ana]

Please,
Don't do it.
Learn a little bit more about the horrors of SSRIs antidepressants.
You're far from having a pale idea of what is really going on.