Steroids
(Anabolic-Androgenic)
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are man-made substances related to
male sex hormones. "Anabolic" refers to muscle-building,
and "androgenic" refers to increased masculine characteristics.
"Steroids" refers to the class of drugs. These drugs
are available legally only by prescription, to treat conditions
that occur when the body produces abnormally low amounts of testosterone,
such as delayed puberty and some types of impotence. They are
also used to treat body wasting in patients with AIDS and other
diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass. Abuse of anabolic
steroids, however, can lead to serious health problems, some irreversible.
Today, athletes and others abuse anabolic steroids to enhance
performance and also to improve physical appearance. Anabolic
steroids are taken orally or injected, typically in cycles of
weeks or months (referred to as "cycling"), rather than
continuously. Cycling involves taking multiple doses of steroids
over a specific period of time, stopping for a period, and starting
again. In addition, users often combine several different types
of steroids to maximize their effectiveness while minimizing negative
effects (referred to as "stacking").
Health Hazards
The major side effects from abusing anabolic steroids can include
liver tumors and cancer, jaundice (yellowish pigmentation of skin,
tissues, and body fluids), fluid retention, high blood pressure,
increases in LDL (bad cholesterol), and decreases in HDL (good cholesterol).
Other side effects include kidney tumors, severe acne, and trembling.
In addition, there are some gender-specific side effects:
-
For
men--shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility,
baldness, development of breasts, increased risk for prostate
cancer.
-
For
women--growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, changes
in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris,
deepened voice.
-
For
adolescents--growth halted prematurely through premature skeletal
maturation and accelerated puberty changes. This means that
adolescents risk remaining short the remainder of their lives
if they take anabolic steroids before the typical adolescent
growth spurt.
In
addition, people who inject anabolic steroids run the added risk
of contracting or transmitting HIV/AIDS or hepatitis, which causes
serious damage to the liver.
Scientific research also shows that aggression and other psychiatric
side effects may result from abuse of anabolic steroids. Many
users report feeling good about themselves while on anabolic steroids,
but researchers report that extreme mood swings also can occur,
including manic-like symptoms leading to violence.
Depression
often is seen when the drugs are stopped and may contribute to
dependence on anabolic steroids. Researchers report also that
users may suffer from paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability,
delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility.
Research also indicates that some users might turn to other drugs
to alleviate some of the negative effects of anabolic steroids.
For example, a study of 227 men admitted in 1999 to a private
treatment center for dependence on heroin or other opioids found
that 9.3 percent had abused anabolic steroids before trying any
other illicit drug. Of these 9.3 percent, 86 percent first used
opioids to counteract insomnia and irritability resulting from
the anabolic steroids.
Extent of Use
Most anabolic steroids users are male, and among male students,
past year use of these substances was reported by 2.2 percent
of 8th graders, 2.8 percent of 10th graders, and 2.5 percent of
12th graders. Between 1989 and 2000, lifetime prevalence of anabolic
steroids use among 12th graders fluctuated between a 3 percent
high in 1989 and a 1.9 percent low in 1996.
Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ·
National Institutes of Health
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