Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids
Anabolic refers to a steroid’s ability to help build muscle. Androgenic refers to their role in promoting the development of male sexual characteristics. Other types of steroids, like cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone do not build muscle, are not anabolic, and do not have the same harmful effects.
What Are They?
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are usually synthetic substances similar to testosterone. Doctors prescribe them to help people with certain kinds of anemia and men who don't produce enough testosterone on their own. Without a prescription from a doctor, anabolic steroids are illegal.
Common Street Names
Most just use the term steroids to refer to these but they could also be called roids or juice.
How Are They Used?
Some people who abuse steroids pop pills. Others use hypodermic needles to inject steroids directly into muscles.
What Are The Effects
A major health consequence from abusing anabolic steroids can include prematurely stunted growth through early skeletal maturation and accelerated puberty changes. This means that teens risk remaining short for the remainder of their lives if they take anabolic steroids before they stop growing. Other effects include jaundice (yellowish coloring of skin, tissues, and body fluids), fluid retention, high blood pressure, increases in LDL (bad cholesterol), decreases in HDL (good cholesterol), severe acne, trembling, and in very rare cases liver and kidney tumors. In addition, there are some gender-specific side effects:
• For guys—shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, and increased risk for prostate cancer
• For girls—growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, and a permanently deepened voice
Steroid abuse can also have an effect on behavior or mood, such as feelings of depression or irritability. Research shows that users may suffer from jealousy, paranoia, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility.
Can Steroid Abuse Be Fatal?
Yes. Steroids affect the heart just as it does other muscles. In some cases, steroid abuse can make the heart susceptible to heart attacks and strokes, which can be fatal. Steroids can also weaken the immune system and any form of drug that is injected runs the risk of spreading life-threatening viral infections such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis.
Anabolic refers to a steroid’s ability to help build muscle. Androgenic refers to their role in promoting the development of male sexual characteristics. Other types of steroids, like cortisol, estrogen, and progesterone do not build muscle, are not anabolic, and do not have the same harmful effects.
What Are They?
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are usually synthetic substances similar to testosterone. Doctors prescribe them to help people with certain kinds of anemia and men who don't produce enough testosterone on their own. Without a prescription from a doctor, anabolic steroids are illegal.
Common Street Names
Most just use the term steroids to refer to these but they could also be called roids or juice.
How Are They Used?
Some people who abuse steroids pop pills. Others use hypodermic needles to inject steroids directly into muscles.
What Are The Effects
A major health consequence from abusing anabolic steroids can include prematurely stunted growth through early skeletal maturation and accelerated puberty changes. This means that teens risk remaining short for the remainder of their lives if they take anabolic steroids before they stop growing. Other effects include jaundice (yellowish coloring of skin, tissues, and body fluids), fluid retention, high blood pressure, increases in LDL (bad cholesterol), decreases in HDL (good cholesterol), severe acne, trembling, and in very rare cases liver and kidney tumors. In addition, there are some gender-specific side effects:
• For guys—shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts, and increased risk for prostate cancer
• For girls—growth of facial hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle, enlargement of the clitoris, and a permanently deepened voice
Steroid abuse can also have an effect on behavior or mood, such as feelings of depression or irritability. Research shows that users may suffer from jealousy, paranoia, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility.
Can Steroid Abuse Be Fatal?
Yes. Steroids affect the heart just as it does other muscles. In some cases, steroid abuse can make the heart susceptible to heart attacks and strokes, which can be fatal. Steroids can also weaken the immune system and any form of drug that is injected runs the risk of spreading life-threatening viral infections such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis.
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