WHAT ARE STEROIDS?

Steroids is the popular name for synthetic(man-made)substances related to the male sex hormones, promote muscle growth and the development of male sexual characteristics.

Steroids are legally avaliable with a prescription. They are prescribed to treat conditions such as delayed puberty, some types of imptence, and body-wasting in patients suffering from AIDS. Steroids are abused, often by athletes, to enhance athletic performance and to improve physical apperance.

 

HOW ARE STEROIDS ABUSED?

Users typically ingest steroids orally, inject them intramuscularly, or rub them on their skin. Individuals who abuse steroids may take doses that are 10 to 100 times higher than those used for medical conditions.

Steroid abusers often take two or more different fors of the drug and mix oral steroids with injectable steroids, a process known as stacking. Abusers also frequently administer their doses in cycles of 6 to 12 weeks, a process called pyramiding. Steroid abusers believe that stacking and pyramiding enhance the benefits of the drug while lessening the toll that drug use tkaes on their bodies, however, there is no scientific evidence to support those theories.

 

RISK OF STEROIDS

  • Liver Tumors
  • Cancer
  • Jaundice
  • High Blood Pressure
  • Increase in Cholesterol Levels
  • Kidney Tumors
  • Fluid Relention
  • Severe Acne
  • Men: may experience Shrinking Testicles, Reduced Sperm Count, Infertility, Baldness, Breast Development, & Increased RISK of Prostate CANCER
  • Women may experience: Growth of Facial Hair, Male-Pattern Baldness, Changes or Cessation in Menstrual Cycle, & Deeping of the Voice
  • Adolescents RISK prematurely HALTING their growth because of early skeletal maturation & acceleration of puberty
  • Dramatic mood Swings(including manic symptoms that can lead to violence called roid rage)
  • Depression
  • Paranoid Jealousy
  • Extreme Irritability
  • Delusions
  • Impaired Judgement
  • IF BEING INJECTED the risk of getting needle-borne diseases, including HIV(human immunodeficency virus), hepatitus B & C, and other blood-borne viruses is present

NAMES FOR STEROIDS:

  • Roids
  • Arnolds
  • Gym Candy
  • Juice
  • Pumpers
  • Stackers
  • Weight Trainers

IS IT ILLEGAL?

YES YES YES

It is illegal to use steroids without a valid prescription. IT IS ALSO ILLEGAL TO DISTRIBUTE THEM! Steroids are Schedult II substances under the Controlled Substance Act. Schedule III, which have a legitimate medical function, may lead to moderate to low physcial dependence or high psychological dependence.

 

WHO ABUSES STEROIDS?

Individuals of various ages abuse steroids, however, it is difficult to quantify the extent of steroid abuse in the US because many data sources that measure drug use exclude steroids. The National Institue on Drug Abuse(NIDA)reports that estimates of the number of individuals 18 and older abuse steroids in the hundreds of thousands. In general, steroid abuse is higher among men than women, however, steroid abuse is growing most rapidly among young women.

STATISTICS

  • steroid abuse among high school students is a HUGE problem
  • 4% of high school seniors in the US abused steroids at least once in their lifetime
  • 1.4% abused steroids in the past month, according to the University of Michigan's Monitoring the Future Survey

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