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To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Top of the page. Topic Overview What are anabolic steroids? Why do some people use anabolic steroids without a prescription?
What problems can using illegal anabolic steroids cause? In men, anabolic steroids can: Reduce sperm count. Shrink the testicles. Cause you not to be able to father children. Enlarge the breasts. In women, anabolic steroids can: Increase body hair.
Make skin rough. Some of the minor side effects include acne, difficulty sleeping, mood swings, and indigestion. Some of the more serious side effects are high blood pressure, liver tumors, bone density problems leading to osteoporosis and eyesight problems. For women, the side effects are even worse and can lead to infertility. This is when the user becomes aggressive when under the influence of anabolic steroids, sometimes even resulting in violent behavior.
Are Steroids Legal? The short answer is no. In medicine, steroids can be useful to treat various health concerns such as loss of function of testicles, muscle wasting caused by the AIDS virus and delayed puberty issues. Veterinarians often prescribe steroids for animal use to help with weight gain and feeding efficiency, so while it is possible to get a legitimate prescription for steroids, they are to be used for their intended purposes only and are strictly not for resale.
Many people have the misconception that steroids are illegal simply because of their performance-enhancing abilities.
This is not the case. The bigger concern is the physical and emotional impact steroids have on their users and the high number of dangerous side effects linked to overuse. What Are the Penalties? First-time offenders are sentenced under these parameters and sentences increase significantly for repeat offenders. According to the Australian Crime Commission the number of steroid seizures at our borders has decreased 2.
Anabolic steroid use and body image psychopathology in men: delineating between appearance-versus performance-driven motivations. Drug and Alcohol Dependence. Abuse NIoD. Drugs and Drug Abuse. Toronto: Addiction Research Foundation; Eustice C. Sydney: The Kirby Institute; Physical effects of anabolic-androgenic steroids in healthy exercising adults: A systematic review and meta-analysis.
Journal of Current Sports Medicine Reports. Understanding performance and image-enhancing drug injecting to improve health and minimise hepatitis C transmission: Findings and recommendations from a national qualitative project. Anabolic steroids and cardiovascular risk. Journal of Sports Medicine. Journal of Forensic Sciences. Long-term anabolic-androgenic steroid use is associated with left ventricular dysfunction. Journal of Circulation: Heart Failure. Hartgens F, Kuipers H.
Effects of androgenic-anabolic steroids in athletes. Shahidi NT. A review of the chemistry, biological action, and clinical applications of anabolic-androgenic steroids. Journal of Clinical Therapeutics. A qualitative exploration of the motivations underlying anabolic-androgenic steroid use from adolescence into adulthood. Health Psychology Report. Anabolic androgenic steroids: a survey of users. Journal of Medicine Science in Sports Exercise.
Misusing anabolic steroids can also cause the following psychological or emotional effects:. Anabolic steroids accelerate bone growth, so if they're misused by adolescents who haven't yet had the growth spurt associated with puberty , the drugs can cause premature ageing of the bones and restricted growth.
As anabolic steroids are often injected, there are risks associated with sharing needles. These are the same risks associated with recreational drug use, and include:. Like many other substances, anabolic steroids are addictive. This means you can crave the drug, require more to get the same effect, and have withdrawal symptoms if you suddenly stop taking them. A person who is addicted to anabolic steroids will want to keep using them despite experiencing unpleasant physical side effects.
When doctors prescribe steroid medication, they always advise coming off the medication slowly by gradually reducing the dose. Coming off anabolic steroids suddenly can result in withdrawal symptoms that include:.
You should see your GP if you think you're addicted to anabolic steroids. Treatment for an addiction to anabolic steroids will be similar to that of other types of addiction. Your GP may refer you to a specially trained drugs counsellor. They'll discuss your addiction with you, how to safely stop taking steroids, and any obstacles you may face when trying to stop, plus strategies for dealing with those obstacles. Page last reviewed: 30 August Next review due: 30 August
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