ANABOLIC STEROIDS

 WHAT ARE ANABOLIC STEROIDS?

Also called: Anabolic-androgenic steroids, Performance-enhancing drugs,are synthetic (man-made) versions of testosterone. Testosterone is the main sex hormone in men. It is₁₉ needed to develop and maintain male sex characteristics, such as facial hair, deep voice, and muscle growth. Women do have some testosterone in their bodies, but in much smaller amounts.
WHAT IS THE ORIGIN OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS?
       Testosterone(C₁₉H₂₈O₂) was first                       synthesized in Germany in 1935 and was used medically to treat depression. Professional athletes began misusing anabolic steroids during the 1954 Olympics, when Russian weightlifters were given testosterone. In the 1980s, anabolic steroid use began to extend into the general population, and young men began using these substances, sometimes to enhance athletic performance but in most cases to improve personal appearance.

Most anabolic steroid users are male non-athletes aiming to improve their appearance by building muscle, and use of steroids is strongly tied to a male body image disorder called muscle dysmorphia19 used as female body image disorders have been linked to unrealistic portrayals of the female form in fashion magazines and popular culture, muscle dysmorphia in males is linked to exaggerated physiques in action movies and other media over the past three decades.19

Congress passed the Anabolic Steroid Act of 1990 to respond to the increasing levels of illicit traffic in steroids. This Act identified anabolic steroids as a separate drug class and categorized over two dozen drugs as controlled substances. The Act also gave a four-part definition of this drug class, which allowed for flexibility in controlling new anabolic steroids as they were synthesized. In 2004, Congress enacted the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004, which banned over-the-counter steroid precursors; increased penalties for making, selling, or possessing illegal steroid precursors; and provided funds for preventative educational efforts.20

Other countries, such as Mexico and some European nations, where steroids are available without prescription, are the main sources of illegal steroids smuggled into the United States. Less common illicit sources include diversion from legitimate sources (e.g., thefts or inappropriate prescribing) or production within clandestine laboratories.21

WHAT ARE ANABOLIC STEROIDS USED FOR?

    Health care providers use anabolic steroids to treat some hormone problems in men, delayed puberty, and muscle loss from some diseases. But some people misuse anabolic steroids.

 Also steroids can be used as performance-enhancing drugs that increase muscle mass and decrease fat, as well as causing many undesirable effects. Some people take them regularly to improve their physical performance and build up their bodies.


However, people of all ages have been known to misuse these drugs, including adolescent boys who suffer from body dysmorphic disorder. This is a mental health condition where a person spends a lot of time worrying about flaws in their appearance. These flaws are often unnoticeable to others.

People who have body dysmorphic disorder may take anabolic steroids because they don't see themselves as being physically big enough or strong enough.

Some people believe taking anabolic steroids will help them become fit and healthy. This isn't true: taking anabolic steroids is a dangerous drug habit.

How anabolic steroids are taken?


Anabolic steroids are usually injected into a muscle or taken by mouth as tablets, but they also come as creams or gels that are applied to the skin.

Many people who use anabolic steroids are aware of the dangers of taking them, and believe that by taking the drugs in certain ways they can avoid side effects. Or they may take additional medicines to try to counter the side effects.

Users might:

  • Take the drugs for a period of time and then stop for a rest period before starting again. This is known as "cycling".
  • Take more than one type of anabolic steroid at a time, known as "stacking", which they believe makes the steroids work better.
  • Do a combination of both stacking and cycling, known as "pyramiding", where they start off taking a low dose of one or more anabolic steroids, and then increase the dose over time up to a maximum dose. They then stop taking them for a rest period to give the body a break before starting the cycle again.

But there is no evidence that any of these methods actually reduce side effects and harms from taking anabolic steroids.

Users tend to exercise more when they're taking high doses to make the most of their improved performance during this time

sharing needles

As anabolic steroids are often injected, there are risks associated with sharing needles. These are the same risks associated with recreational drug use, and include:

WHY DO PEOPLE MISUSE ANABOLIC STEROIDS? 

Some bodybuilders and athletes use anabolic steroids to build muscles and improve athletic performance. They may take the steroids orally, inject them into muscles, or apply them to the skin as a gel or cream. These doses may be 10 to 100 times higher than doses used to treat medical conditions. Using them this way, without a prescription from a health care provider, is not legal or safe.

What are the health effects of misusing anabolic steroids?

Misuse of anabolic steroids, especially over a long period of time, has been linked to many health problems, including:

In men, it can also cause:

  • Reduced sperm count/infertility
  • Shrunken testicles
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Hair loss/baldness
  • Breast development
  • Increased risk of prostate cancer
  • Severe acne
  • Stomach pain

In women, it can also cause:

  • Changes in your menstrual cycle (period)
  • Growth of body and facial hair
  • Male-pattern baldness
  • Voice deepening
  • loss of breasts
  • swelling of the clitoris
  • an increased sex drive
  • hair loss
  • severe acne

In addition, both men and women who take anabolic steroids can develop any of the following medical conditions:

Stunted growth in adolescents

Anabolic steroids accelerate bone growth, so if they're misused by adolescents who haven't yet had the growth spurt associated with puberty, the drugs can cause premature ageing of the bones and restricted growth.

Are anabolic steroids addictive?


Even though they don't cause a high, anabolic steroids can be addictive. You can have withdrawal symptoms if you stop using them, including:

Behavioral therapy and medicines can be helpful in treating anabolic steroid

 addiction

Getting help 

You should see a GP if you think you're addicted to anabolic steroids. Treatment for an addiction to anabolic steroids will be similar to that of other types of addiction.

The GP may refer you to a specially trained drugs counsellor. They'll discuss your addiction with you, how to safely stop taking steroids, and any obstacles you may face when trying to stop, plus tips for dealing with those obstacles.

Further information and advice:

Are anabolic steroids illegal?

Anabolic steroids are class C drugs, which can only be issued by pharmacists with a prescription.

It's legal to have anabolic steroids for personal use. They can also be imported or exported, as long as this is carried out in person. This means they can't be posted or delivered by a courier or freight service.

However, it's illegal to possess, import or export anabolic steroids if it's believed you're supplying or selling them. This includes giving them to friends. The penalty is an unlimited fine, or even a prison sentence of up to 14 years.

In professional sport, most organisations ban anabolic steroid use and test competitors for banned steroids. If you do test positive, you may be banned from competing professionally.




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