Imagine you’re out for a drive when suddenly the red gas pump lights up on your dashboard.

You need to fill up, so you pull into a gas station like you’ve done hundreds of times before.

But this time it’s different. Instead of just refilling the tank, you also take apart the engine and rebuild it to make it more powerful.

You take another drive, go to fill up the tank and again you rebuild the engine and make it even more powerful. And this goes on for an extended period of time.

What was just described is a simplified analogy of what it’s like when a human takes anabolic steroids.

In the war over performance-enhancing drugs it’s sometimes hard to discern fact from fiction.

And while many believe they are well educated on the subject, it’s often not the case.

The Smoking GunWhen trying to understand the controversy over illegal performance enhancers, one must first understand the enhancer itself.

In this case: anabolic steroids.

There are three types of steroids: cortical, estrogenic and anabolic.

And while all three have effects on the body, anabolic steroids are at the heart of the controversy due to their ability to quickly increase muscle mass.

According to Rod Caughron, director of Graduate Studies in Sport Management at NIU, anabolic steroids help the body retain more nitrogen and incorporate more protein into the muscle. Human muscle is made up of protein, and with the increased supply created by steroid use, muscles are able to become bigger and thicker than they would naturally.

In other words, steroids change the mechanisms of the body in ways that being all natural or using supplements can’t.

And while this may seem like a great way to get an edge, changing the mechanisms of the body doesn’t come without consequences.

The RealityAnabolic steroids come with a longer name to them: anabolic androgenic.

Androgenic refers to the supportive secondary male characteristics that come with anabolic steroids. Steroids carry with them the male hormone testosterone.

For women, this means their anatomy will actually become more like a male’s anatomy. According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, lower voices, baldness, acne and increases in body hair are all side effects women experience when they take steroids.

Caughron has seen women body builders on steroids, and said from the back there’s no way to tell they aren’t men.

The side effects aren’t much better for men. Acne, swelling of the head and even the growth of breasts are all common side effects. And while more testosterone may sound intriguing to some men, it actually causes the testicles to shrink. Men have to take another specialized pill to get the functionality of their testicles back once they get off their 12-week cycle.

Steroids also have been associated with aggressive behavior often referred to as “roid rage,” but Caughron said there is no scientific evidence supporting that.

But steroids don’t only affect the outside of a person’s body. According to Caughron, the steroid Anadrol-50, one of the most powerful, also destroys the liver. Steroids also have been linked to heart, kidney and prostate problems.

But in order for the steroid to get into the body, it has to first get into a person’s possession.

“Buy steroids” and gumdropsHow easy is it to buy steroids? Easier than you think.

“Buy steroids” is featured on a Web site easily found on the Internet with a simple search.

The site not only tells how to buy steroids, but also profiles more than 70 types of performance enhancers, gives black-market prices and even tells how to properly inject yourself.

Aside from having an actual human dealer, the internet is the easiest way to get anabolic steroids.

Matt Mangum, NIU head strength and conditioning coach, knows about sites like these and how easy it is to obtain the illegal performance enhancers.

“It’s perfectly legal to purchase steroids online,” said Mangum. “It’s not a crime until you receive the goods.”

But with the illegality of steroids, one would think it would be hard to even receive the “goods.” In reality, it just takes a jar of gumdrops.

According to Mangum, sometimes the steroids are shipped in jars filled with similarly colored gumdrops, making it very difficult to actually recognize the steroids.

All this makes steroids seem so easy. You go online, buy the steroids, use them, and build your dream body.

But just as with using steroids, buying steroids comes with its own side effects.

The LawEarl Peterson has worked in the DeKalb County State’s Attorney’s office for seven years.

And in those seven years he has yet to prosecute a case against anyone for anabolic steroid violations.

In fact, he doesn’t know if anyone has ever been prosecuted in DeKalb County.

“But that doesn’t mean steroids aren’t a problem,” the assistant state’s attorney said.

And when it comes to steroids, Peterson and the state of Illinois aren’t lenient with penalties.

A straight possession of anabolic steroids is a Class C misdemeanor for the first offense, which can result in up to 30 days in jail and a $1,500 fine.

Get caught again with steroids within two years of the first conviction and it becomes a Class B misdemeanor, is punishable by up to 6 months in the county jail and another fine up to $1,500.

If one is found with intent to distribute, the penalties only get worse.

Getting caught trying to sell or deliver steroids is a Class 3 felony. The penalty for that violation is two to five years in the Department of Corrections, or up to 180 days in the county jail, plus a fine of up to $125,000.

And anyone getting caught better hope not to have Peterson prosecuting their case.

“I’d be more than happy to prosecute them,” he said.