Steroids

Steroids are synthetically created drugs that mimic male sex hormones and are used to gain advantage in athletic performance and to stimulate muscle growth. Though steroids are only available via prescription, they are often abused, especially by athletes.

About Steroids

Steroids are synthetic (man-made) substances that are related to the male sex hormones. They promote muscle growth and they help with the development of male sexual characteristics. Steroids are legally available only with a prescription. They are prescribed to treat conditions such as delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and patients suffering from AIDS. Steroids are abused, often by athletes, to enhance athletic performance and to improve physical appearance.

Steroids are available in tablet, liquid, gel, and cream form. The appearance of these products varies depending upon the type and the manufacturer.

Users typically ingest steroids orally, inject them intramuscularly, or rub them on their skin. Individuals who abuse steroids may take doses that are 10 to 100 times higher than those used for medical conditions.

Steroid abusers often take two or more different forms of the drug and mix oral steroids with injectable steroids, a process that is known as 'stacking'. Abusers also frequently administer their doses in cycles of 6 to 12 weeks, a process that is called 'pyramiding'. Steroid abusers believe that stacking and pyramiding enhance the benefits of the drug while lessening the toll that drug use takes on their bodies but, there is no scientific evidence to support these theories.

Steroid abuse is associated with a range of physical and emotional problems. Physical consequences include liver tumors and cancer, jaundice, high blood pressure and increases in cholesterol levels, kidney tumors, fluid retention, and severe acne. Men may experience shrinking of the testicles; reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, breast development, and an increased risk of prostate cancer. Women may experience growth of facial hair, male pattern baldness, changes or cessation in menstrual cycle, and deepening of their voice. Individuals who are still growing (such as adolescents) risk prematurely halting their growth because of early skeletal maturation and acceleration of puberty.

Emotional problems associated with steroid use include dramatic mood swings, depression, paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment.

In addition to the risks directly associated with steroid abuse, individuals who inject the drugs expose themselves to the risk of needle-borne diseases, including HIV, hepatitis B and C, and other blood-borne viruses.

Some common street names for steroids are: Gym Candy, Juice, Pumpers, Stackers and Weight Trainers.

Created by vickiz

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