At the moment it is legal to posses’ anabolic steroids, however in November 1994 the supply of steroids became a new offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act. Most are illegal and are banned by professional sports organizations. If an athlete is caught using Anabolic steroids, his or her career can be finished (i.e. Ben Johnson). The penalties are the same as that for supplying a Class B controlled substance. (www.drugscope.org.uk)
Steroids can be taken in the form of pills, powders, or injections, the way in which it is used is by cycles of weeks or months referred to as "cycling", rather than continuously. Cycling involves taking multiple doses of steroids over a certain period of time (8 to 10 weeks) stopping for a period, and starting again. And users often mix several different types of steroids to maximize their effectiveness while minimizing negative effects referred to as "stacking”. Here is a list of the most comely used anabolic steroids
There are some types of steroids that have medical uses and are available by prescription (i.e. asthma) or in the form of . Dietary supplements that contain steroids often make claims that are false and very little is known about the long-term effects on the body of some of these substances because the supplement industry is not regulated properly as of yet. (Kuipers, H. 1998)
Anabolic steroids cause many different types of problems here is some of the more poignant ones
Mental
With the use of high dosages of anabolic and androgenic (especially androgenic) steroids, over a long-term both men and woman can develop extremely aggressive behaviour or “roid” rage .Steroids can also cause mood swings if used over a long period of time especially if the person is not training whilst taking them as there is a build up of energy and no where for the energy to stream thus a build up of tension and aggression.
Feminisation (Bich tit )
Feminisation occurs in males only. Excessive levels of testosterone can often be converted into the female sex hormone estrogen resulting in some female characteristics such as the formation of breasts (gynecomastia), increased tendency toward fatty deposits, and extremely soft muscles), gynecomastia or bitch tits is the abnormal enlargement of one or both breasts in a man. This is usually brought on by a hormonal imbalance, which can be achieved by the use of steroids. This condition can occur naturally, without the use of steroids as well (Kuipers,H.1998 and www.steroids101.com)
Changes in the skin
The skin is the largest organ on the human body and is the most sensitive area for side effects from the use of steroids. The most apparent side effects are the pores in the skin becoming larger making the skin rough, acne also occurs due to stimulation of oil glands in the skin. Stretch marks are also prominent, not directly from the use of steroids but from the rapid growth of the muscles.
(www.anabolics.com)
Above: Severe Steroid Back Acne
Loss of hair
Steroids do not cause baldness, however, they can speed the process up for those who are going to loose their hair anyway
Above: Balding (www.anabolics.com)
Liver damage
Steroid abuse has been associated with liver tumours and a rare condition called peliosis hepatitis, in which blood-filled cysts form in the liver. Both the tumours and the cysts sometimes rupture, causing internal bleeding. With the use of oral steroidal compounds in particular, liver damage can occur. A condition called Peliosis Hepatitis is rare but is certainly life threatening, because it not usually found until the liver is completely shut down or until an intra-abdominal haemorrhage develops. (www.anabolics.com)
Kidney damage
Some steroid compounds have appeared to have an adverse effect on kidney function. This, like most of the side effects described, has a higher tendency to exist when longer durations or high dosages are being consumed. The kidneys main purpose is to filter toxic by products, and excrete them. Whenever a person is on any type of drug, their kidneys are under more stress than ordinary. An electrolyte imbalance and high blood pressure can both lead to improper kidney function. Kidney disorders are often reflected in edema, lower back pain, renal colic, fever, kidney enlargement, and swelling in the costovertebral region and Jaundice ( Kuipers, H. 1998) a serious liver disease which is found by an enlarged painful liver, yellowing of the eyes and skin, and flu like symptoms. This happens when athletes use too much steroids.
Cardiovascular system
Steroid abuse has been associated with cardiovascular diseases including heart attacks and strokes, even in athletes younger than 30. Steroids contribute to the development of cardiovascular diseases partly by changing the levels of lipoproteins that carry cholesterol in the blood. Steroids, particularly the oral types, increase the level of low-density lipoprotein and decrease the level of high-density lipoprotein. High low-density lipoprotein and low high-density lipoprotein levels increase the risk of atherosclerosis, a condition in which fatty substances are deposited inside arteries and disrupt blood flow. If blood is prevented from reaching the heart, the result can be a heart attack. If blood is prevented from reaching the brain, the result can be a stroke. (Fahey, T.D. 1998)
Steroids also increase the risk that blood clots will form in blood vessels, potentially disrupting blood flow and damaging the heart muscle so that it does not pump blood effectively. (Fahey, T.D. 1998)
Immune System
Some steroid supplements such as testosterone can provide an improved immune system state, making it easier to recover and ward off viral illnesses. The body then becomes somewhat dependent on the steroid supplementation and must be rejuvenated after the supplementation has been discontinued. A person in this position should do his best not to become over tired and rundown. This will allow the immune system to become self-reliant again and therefore effective. Often times when a person discontinues their steroid cycle, they allow themselves to become tired and rundown leading to a tendency to become infected with a viral illness, colds, and sometimes pneumonia.
Impotence
When first administering steroids, a man will have an increase in sexual function. This unfortunately is only temporary as your body becomes used to the steroid in its system. With prolonged use of a steroid, eventually, the man will feel less sexual desire, and will be less capable of maintaining an erection. this is only temporary as well and can even be totally prevented with the use of substance such as Gonakor and HCG( www.anabolics.com). Also when the steroid use is discontinued, the body’s natural level of testosterone (like the immune system) will certainly be suppressed. Tribestan, is a great product to use to help revitalize a persons natural testosterone levels.( Reynolds, W., & Weider, J., 1999)
High Blood Pressure
There is no real “symptoms” that will let you know that you have high blood pressure until it is already too high. Then the symptoms are headaches, vision problems, insomnia, and difficulty breathing. High blood pressure is usually induced by high water or sodium retention accompanied with a rapid weight increase. Stress, overworking, over eating, and holding your breath during very heavy lifts can also promote high blood pressure.
Water Retention
this is most common from using steroids. It is a “puffiness” or swelling in the neck and facial areas.
Stomach problems
Oral steroids can sometime bring about stomach-aches in some users, the most common being Anapolon, Stenox, Primabolan, Winstrol, and Dianabol. The symptoms can be anything from a slight discomfort to nausea, diarrhea, and vomiting. Sometimes this can be avoided by taking the steroids at mealtime. (www.anabolics.com)
Other side affects
Steroid use decreases the glucose tolerance, while there is an increase in insulin resistance. These changes mimic Type II diabetes.( www.teenbodybuilding.com) These changes seem to be reversible after abstention from the drugs.
Steroid users who inject the drugs with a needle may be at greater risk for contracting (human immunodeficiency virus), the virus that causes AIDS, if they share needles with other users. They are also at greater risk for contracting , a disease of the liver.
They are usually used during training to build muscles and contrary to popular belief are not usually used when the athlete is competing if they are being used for that purpose. There is widespread use of steroids in the body building world due to the ability of steroids to make muscles larger at an increased rate when used with regular weight training.
Few data exist on the extent of steroid abuse by adults. It has been estimated that hundreds of thousands of people aged 18 and older abuse anabolic steroids at least once a year (www.steroidinformation.com.)
Among both adolescents and adults, steroid abuse is higher among males than females. However, steroid abuse is growing most rapidly among young women. ()
Evidence collected for the most recent edition of the Department of Health's annual Schools Survey, which examines trends in drinking, smoking and drug-taking among young people, showed that in 2001 1 per cent of 11-to-15-year-old boys in England had taken steroids, but that no girls of the same age had done so. None admitted using them in the previous year
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Conclusion
Steroids are used by an increasing number of people and these numbers are increasing. As more and more people continue to take these the risks of serious health risks are doubled. This however doesn’t seem to stop those people taking steroids. People are more obsessed now than ever before in their appearance and physique than ever before and although there are detrimental effects to health they continue to take these anyway. Magazines, TV, films and media have a large part to play in this and people don’t want to do it the hard way they want to be big and they want it to happen sooner rather than later. The advertising industry should concentrate more on the effects of taking these drugs rather than portraying the people who take them as glamorous or as hero’s.
References
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Research Report:
Anabolic Steroid Abuse, April 2000
Kuipers, H. (1998). Anabolic steroids: side effects. In: Encyclopaedia of Sports Medicine and Science, T.D.Fahey. Internet Society for Sport Science:
Reynolds, W., & Weider, J., 1999, The Master Blaster Principles of Training, pp 149,151, London, Wheatley.
Fahey, T.D. (1998). Anabolic-androgenic steroids: mechanism of action and effects on performance. In: Encyclopedia of Sports Medicine and Science, T.D.Fahey
