Steroids

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Steroids
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What are Steroids?

• Anabolic steroids are synthetic male hormones
  (androgens) that promote growth of skeletal
  muscle and the development of male sexual
  characteristics.
• The primary use of anabolic steroids are to treat
  delayed puberty, acme types of impotence, and
  wasting of the body caused by disease.
• There are 100 different types of anabolic
  steroids, each requiring a prescription to be
  used legally in the Unites States.
• Athletes and others abuse anabolic-androgenic
  steroids to enhance performance and improve their
  physical appearance.

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Methods of Use

• Orally
• Injected into a muscle
• Rubbed into the skin in the form of a gel or
  cream
• They are taken in cycles of weeks or months
  rather than continuously which is referred to as
  cycling.
• Users also frequently combine several different
  types of steroids in a process known as
  stacking.
• Pyramiding is when Users also slowly escalate
  steroid use reaching a peak amount at mid-cycle
  and gradually tapering the dose toward the end of
  the cycle

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Street Names

• Gym candy
• Arnolds
• Weight trainers
• Pumpers
• Stackers
• As
• Anabolics
• Roids
• Balls
• Bulls
• Gear
• Juice

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Reasons for Abuse

• To improve athletic performance
• To increase muscle size
• To reduce body fat

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Hazards of Steroid Use

• Liver tumors
• Kidney tumors
• Jaundice
• Fluid retention
• High blood pressure
• Increases in LDL (bad cholesterol)
• Decreases in HDL (good cholesterol)
• Severe acne
• Trembling
• Enlarged facial bones
• Stunted height
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Bone pain
• Muscle cramps
• Blood clotting difficulties

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Gender Specific Effects

• People who inject anabolic steroids run the risk
  of acquiring or transmitting HIV/AIDS or
  hepatitis.
• For Adolescents
• Premature skeletal maturation
• Accelerated puberty changes
• Growth halted prematurely
• For Women
• Growth of facial and body hair
• Changes in or cessation of menstrual cycle
• Pattern baldness
• Deepened voices
• Enlargement of the clitoris
• For Men
• Shrinking of testicles
• Reduce sperm count
• Infertility
• Pattern baldness
• Development of breasts
• Increased risk of prostate cancer

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Psychological Effects

• Depression
• Irritability
• Inability to concentrate
• Forgetfulness
• Lack of interest or energy for everyday life
• Aggressive, violent behavior
• Paranoia
• Manic episodes

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Withdrawal Symptoms

• Mood swings
• Fatigue
• Restlessness
• Loss of appetite
• Insomnia
• Reduced sex drive
• Depression
• The depression can lead to suicide attempts and
  if left untreated, can persist for a year or more
  after the abuser stops taking the drugs.

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Extent of Use

• Approximately 1.8 of young adults, ages 19-28,
  surveyed in 2006 reported lifetime use of
  steroids.
• Some users might turn to other drugs to alleviate
  some of the negative effects of steroids.
• Most illegal steroids are smuggled from other
  countries, diverted from pharmacies, and made in
  underground laboratories