Steroids
Legality
Anabolic Steroids are prescription only medicines. It is not illegal to possess them but it is illegal to supply them. There is a large illicit market in Anabolic Steroids.
Description
Anabolic Steroids are drugs, which mimic the effect of the natural male hormone Testosterone.
Also Known As
Commonly used names are Anavar, Sustanon and Dionabot.
How it is used
Anabolic Steroids are taken orally or injected into the muscle.
Health risks
People use Anabolic Steroids to increase muscle mass, increase strength, to train harder, and to reduce the recovery time needed after training. It is believed that the benefits from steroids is psychological and so make people feel that they are stronger than they really are. There are a number of side effects, which include acne, disorders of the liver and kidneys, mood swings and aggression and a stunting of growth in young people. There is also an increased chance of heart attacks and strokes. In men it can cause growth of breasts, shrinking of the testicles and infertility. In women it can cause growth of body hair and deepening of the voice.
Signs & symptoms
- Predominantly used by body builders, the effects are physically obvious.
- The effects for women already mentioned are usually irreversible.
- Anabolic Steroid users do not regard themselves as substance abusers. However, there are many thousands such users who encounter problems with this form of abuse.
