Anabolic Steroid abuse has
become a national concern. These drugs are used
illicitly by weight lifters, body builders, long distant
runners, cyclists, and others who claim that the drugs
give them a competitive advantage and/or improve their
physical appearance. Once viewed as a problem associated
only with professional athletes, recent reports estimate
that 5 to 12 percent of male high school students and 1
percent of female students have used anabolic steroids
by the time they were seniors. Concerns over a growing
illicit market and prevalence of abuse combined with the
possibility of harmful long-term effects of steroid use,
led Congress to place anabolic steroids into Schedule
III of the Controlled Substance Act (CSA).
The CSA defines anabolic steroids as any drug or
hormonal substance chemically and pharmacologically
related to testosterone (other than estrogen, progestins,
and corticosteroids), that promotes muscle growth. Most
illicit anabolic steroids are sold at gyms, competitions
and through mail order operations. For the most part,
these substances are smuggled into the United States.
Those commonly encountered on the illicit market
include: boldenone (Equipose), ethylestrenol (Maxibolin),
fluoxymesterone (Halotestin), methandriol,
methandrostenolone (Dianabol), Depo-Testosterone Android
- 25 (mehyltestosterone), nandrolone (Durabolin,
Deca-Durabolin), oxandrolone (Anavar), oxymetholone (Anadrol),
stanozolol (Winstrol), testosterone and trenbolone (Finajet).
In addition, a number of bogus or counterfeit products
are sold as anabolic steroids.
Source: DEA
STEROIDAL SUPPLEMENTS:
In the United States, supplements such as
dehydroepian-drosterone (DHEA) and androstenedione
(street name Andro) can be purchased legally without a
prescription through many commercial sources including
health food stores. They are often referred to as
dietary supplements, although they are not food
products. They are often taken because the user believes
they have anabolic effects. Steroidal supplements can be
converted into testosterone (an important male sex
hormone) or a similar compound in the body. Whether such
conversion produces sufficient quantities of
testosterone to promote muscle growth or whether the
supplements themselves promote muscle growth is unknown.
Little is known about the side effects of steroidal
supplements, but if large quantities of these compounds
substantially increase testosterone levels in the body,
they also are likely to produce the same side effects as
anabolic steroids.
Source: NIDA Research Report,
"Anabolic Steroid Abuse," April 2000
Health consequences associated with
anabolic steroid abuse include:
In boys and men, reduced sperm production, shrinking
of the testicles, impotence, difficulty or pain in
urinating, baldness, and irreversible breast enlargement
(gynecomastia).
In girls and women, development of more masculine
characteristics, such as decreased body fat and breast
size, deepening of the voice, excessive growth of body
hair, and loss of scalp hair, as well as clitoral
enlargement.
In adolescents of both sexes, premature termination of
the adolescent growth spurt, so that for the rest of
their lives, abusers remain shorter than they would have
been without the drugs.
In males and females of all ages, potentially fatal
liver cysts and liver cancer; blood clotting,
cholesterol changes, and hypertension, each of which can
promote heart attack and stroke; and acne. Although not
all scientists agree, some interpret available evidence
to show that anabolic steroid abuse-particularly in high
doses-promotes aggression that can manifest itself as
fighting, physical and sexual abuse, armed robbery, and
property crimes such as burglary and vandalism. Upon
stopping anabolic steroids, some abusers experience
symptoms of depressed mood, fatigue, restlessness, loss
of appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive, headache,
muscle and joint pain, and the desire to take more
anabolic steroids.
In injectors, infections resulting from the use of
shared needles or nonsterile equipment, including
HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and infective endocarditis,
a potentially fatal inflammation of the inner lining of
the heart. Bacterial infections can develop at the
injection site, causing pain and abscess.
Source: NIDA Community Drug Alert Bulletin: Anabolic
Steroids, April 2000
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