The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 came as a great blow to steroid abuse in the United States. The legislation prohibits free over-the-counter sales of anabolic steroids. It requires a person buying steroids to have a prescription from a recognized physician. The legislation also does effectively reclassify anabolic steroids as controlled substances, and under the federal law, controlled substances are the most highly regulated drugs in the USA.

The previous law, that considered anabolic steroids as supplements, had many loopholes for steroid abuse.

Gary Wadler, M.D., an ACSM sports medicine doctor and member of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), said, ?This potentially closes a very large loophole that exists under current law, thereby protecting the health of professional elite athletes as well as recreational and student athletes.?

The American College of Sports Medicine has always been fighting steroid abuse in the United States. It has always been against the steroid abuse and the use of on performance enhancing substances, particularly anabolic steroids, because of their adverse health effects.

The ACMS has always been supporting the efforts to suppress steroid abuse and protecting the health of athletes.

According to the experts associated with ACMS, steroid abuse is like chain reaction that goes on and on. The collegiate athletes abuse steroids just because pros do that; the juniors copy their seniors in steroid abuse, and resultantly the kids as young as 10 years of age indulge in steroid abuse. Thus, the authorities should control the steroid abuse among the pros first; it will consequently minimize the steroid abuse among the collegiate athletes who mere copy their pro stars.

The pros and coaches can play very positive role in keep back steroid abuse among the teenagers. The pros should try to be the role models of youngsters, and coaches and help young jocks to develop positive frame of mind.