Anabolic steroids got quite a bit of media attention in the late 90s and are still in the news today. While most of these stories centered around professional baseball players, the fact is that steroids are prevalent in many professional sports and in recreational sports; whether people want to admit it or not.
Our New York Anabolic Steroids Lawyer group states that steroids create a reaction in the body that is much like testosterone, and athletes use them to build muscle, increase endurance and decrease the recovery time between workouts. While these are the primary reasons athletes use steroids, they also admit that they need them to be competitive with the other players who are “juiced.”
While there are many positive aspects to steroids (doctors often prescribe them to help people heal from injuries) there are major drawbacks to prolonged use including, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and liver disease. Other non-life threatening side effects include, premature balding, acne, growth of breast tissue in males, and loss of menstrual cycles in women. Adolescents who want to mimic their sports heroes have also taken to using steroids and the consequences for them can cause growth problems and lead to their premature sexual development. Also, many high-profile cases of steroid abuse come about because of what's called 'Roid Rage', which is caused by an increase in aggressive, hostile or violent behavior because of steroid use.
Our New York Drug Crime Lawyer staff has found data shows that nearly 1% of the US population uses anabolic steroids. While most of these people inject these drugs directly into their muscles, some take pills or even use steroid creams.
According to most state and federal laws, drug selling or the intention to sell anabolic steroids is a felony. A person who is convicted of possessing steroids or selling steroids could face a maximum of five years in prison under federal guidelines. In addition, the convicted may also face additional punishment under the laws of their particular state for the drug offense crime.
According to recently released statistics, more than 6 million Americans are either currently using or have used anabolic steroids. Even though most people don't get caught, the punishments are very stiff for the ones who do. Arrests for possession of anabolic steroids are on the rise. These drugs may be discovered during routine traffic stops where a warrant isn't necessary, by border searches and mail order searches.
Under the Federal Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990, steroids are lumped into the same class of drugs as LSD, barbiturates and veterinary tranquilizers.
It should be noted that even if a person avoids prison time, the arrest for steroid possession can result in steep legal expenses and the forfeiture of your assets. If you're convicted, you may have difficulty finding decent employment or it may put your current job position in jeopardy. Additionally, being convicted of a Schedule III drug offense can result in the loss of your driver's license and it can limit your ability to own a firearm. If you find yourself under arrest for possessing anabolic steroids, having a New York Anabolic Steroids Lawyer on your side is vital if you wish to mount a solid defense. In addition, if you're caught with steroids, you may also be charged with intent to distribute or the intent to sell based on the quantities regardless of whether you actually sold any or not.
Because of the high-profile nature of steroid cases, law enforcement and prosecutors are cracking down on steroid use, possession and manufacture. If you're ever arrested under suspicion of possessing steroids or possession of a controlled substance, it's vital that you not say anything to law enforcement until you meet with a member of our New York Criminal Lawyer team. Please call Stephen Bilkis & Associates, PLLC at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free consultation. Or you may contact one of our New York City offices serving Brooklyn, Staten Island, Queens, the Bronx or Manhattan, or in Westchester County or one of our Long Island offices in Nassau County or Suffolk County.