animal use in research

Parag Viradia
English
02/03/05

“Why should we use Animals in Research?”
In my psychology class we had to write a reaction paper about whether or not animals should be used for research purposes. So I started looking on the web for some content and as I was reading through the pages, I found out that lot of pharmaceutical companies use animals to test their products, which I think is unfair.
In this paper I want to consider both the side of the issue because on one hand it helps prevent lot of diseases but on the other hand animals are becoming victim for our benefit. My goal is to get opinion of my classmates and see what they have to say about it.
Animals, genetic make up is similar to that of human beings and that is why they are used in the research. It is absolutely necessary to use something for research that shows all the pros and cons of the product that is created. Animals are the only ones that have most of their characteristics similar to human beings. If the product that is tested shows adverse effect on the animal, one can judge that the product has to be reformulated again. Similarly, if the product works on the animal than it can be used by human beings. The most common product that is tested on animals is medication, because many people’s life depends on medication and if not tested before used will cause in loss of several lives. As Americans for medical progress says that “Animal research has been the bedrock for most of the medical advances of this century.” Further more it claims that Vaccines for smallpox, tetanus, diphtheria, polio, measles, lyme disease, hepatitis B and chicken pox, gene therapy, Insulin to control diabetes; are breakthroughs that were brought about through animal research.
In other words animal use in research is worth it, saving millions of precious lives from a faulty product. So I think there is no harm in using animals for research, but testing should be with animals like Rats and Mice. They are literally a dime a dozen.
On the other hand I see that animals are becoming victims for no reason. When, in pain, animals don’t act the way the human does this doesn’t mean they don’t feel anything. There are computers now which can give better result of the products effect on the diseases or whatever it is going to be used for. The computers are able to give every little information about the drug being tested. If the computers can give all the information why should we waste an innocent life. Animals should be used in research but there has to be some sort of guide line to it. Like for say animals can be used to test drugs for AIDS because the animals effect would be much more helpful.

Work cited:
http://www.ampef.org/Issues/IssuesList.cfm?c=15

Believing and Doubting

Parag Viradia
English
02/08/05

We should ban the use of anabolic steroid in sports?

Believe
I am an athlete and believe that sports are very important. Everything that is related to sports is most concerned to me. I have come cross a lot of talk about drugs usage which helps the user to get around the hard work which a normal athlete would have to go through in order to give a good performance. I myself sometimes think about doing this but am glad that I am not doing it. It really works in its initial stages but as every coin has two sides it has a lot many side effects than the advantages. They enhance your performance but it does not have any effect on the athlete’s skills and cardiovascular agility. The external effect can be seen easily but the internal effects are not visible until its too late. Some of them are irreversible. I believe that steroid are dangerous for the people who use it. Steroid gives an athlete an edge on the competition.
Moreover anabolic steroid are addictive and so if tried once, one gets addicted to it and then its very hard for him to perform without the drugs. Anabolic steroids are usually taken in the pill form, but some are taken by injection. Athletes, who take steroids, use each other’s needle which can lead to diseases. Athlete take steroids to satisfy the needs of fans I don’t believe in that. I play soccer and all of my friends and everyone that I know expects a better performance from me every time, but when I am on the field I don’t think about that I just give my 100 percent and forget about the rest.

Doubt
Although I am against the use of anabolic steroid in sports, I will try to support it. Hey if it gives you an edge on the competition why not use it. Anabolic steroids works pretty fast on the body and that is why it attracts more and more people everyday. Steroid helps increase body weight and muscle mass. They also help improve your muscle strength and endurance. The athlete as a pain reliever sometimes takes anabolic steroids so in that case it is helpful. Doctors recommend drug to their patient and therefore it work some way or the other. Athlete should try to follow something like that and take the benefit of the steroids without getting adversely effected. Moreover the amount is what matters the most. If used in small quantities, I think, it wouldn’t effect the athlete that much.
The viewer(audience) want the athlete to perform better, then the last time, every time they step on the field. To perform better every time one needs to have supernatural powers, which is not possible. Athlete with no other choice left are forced to use steroids in order to satisfy the need of the audience.

Steroid and Sports

Parag Viradia
English
02/02/05

“Steroid and Sports”

Question: why athletes (professional and amateur) go to the extreme of endangering themselves to achieve brief higher performance?
I am an athlete and have come across many talks about drugs that are supposed to give you an edge on the competition. Sports have been a very important part of life. Athletes are expected to perform at there very best, in whatever event they are performing in. In order to perform well in an event one needs to put his 100% and to do that one needs to word hard all the time. Steroid is the only way to get around hard work. Lot of people chooses to use steroids, just looking at the positive side of it. As every coin has two sides, there is other side to the steroid use.
“Steroids are drugs derived from naturally occurring male anabolic hormone testosterone. Anabolic steroid more preciously know as anabolic/androgenic steroid belong to group known as ergogenic or so called “performance enhancing,” drugs.” anabolic steroids actually don’t work. Anabolic steroids are usually taken in a pill form or some by injection.
A normal prescribed dose for medical reasons is 1-5 milligrams, but athletes, on the other hand, take hundred of milligrams which result into various kinds of health problems. Steroid helps increase body weight and muscle mass. They also help improve your muscle strength and endurance. On the other side they have on effect on the user’s performance, neither it improves person’s agility, skills and cardiovascular capacity. Mega-dosing is hazardous to health. The external effect is easily seen but the internal effects are not evident until it’s too late. Steroids can also cause behavior changes ranging from aggression, hostility and irritability to psychotic behavior sometimes called "roid rages." Steroid use has an adverse effect on the body both in males and females. Moreover steroids are addictive and once started are very hard to quit.
Now I am left with a question of whether anabolic steroids are really helpful or not?



Work cited
http://espn.go.com/special/s/drugsandsports/steroids.html