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Information on Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroid abuse has become a worldwide concern. These drugs are used illicitly be
weight lifters, body builders, long distance runners, cyclists and others who claim that these drugs give them a competitive advantage/or improve their physical appearance. Most illicit anabolic steroids are
sold at gyms, competitions and through mail operations. For the most part, these substances are smuggled into this country. Those commonly encountered on the illiicit market include: boldenone (Equipoise), ethlestrenol
(Maxibolin), fluxoymesterone (Halotestin), methandriol, methandrostenolone (Dianabol), methyltestosterone, 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. A limited number of anabolic steroids have been approved for medical and veterinary use.
The primary legitimate use of these drugs in humans is for the replacement of inadequate levels of testosterone resulting from a reduction or absence of functioning testes. In veterinary practice, anabolic steroids are
used to promote feed efficiency and to improve weight gain, vigor and hair coat. They are also used in veterinary practice to treat anemia and counteract tissue breakdown during illness and trauma. When used in
combination with exercise training and high protein diet, anabolic steroids can promote increased size and strength of muscles, improve endurance and decrease recovery time between workouts. They are taken orally or by
intramuscuclar injection. Users concerned about drug tolerance often take steroids on a schedule called a cycle. A cycle is a period of between 6 and 14 weeks of steroid use, followed by a period of abstinence or
reduction in use. Additionally, users tend to "stack" the drugs, using multiple drugs concurrently. Although the benefits of these practices are unsubstantiated, most users feel that cycling and stacking
enhance the efficiency of the drugs and limit their side effects. Yet another mode of steroid use is "pyramiding" in which users slowly escalate steroid use (increasing the number of drugs used at one time
and/or the dose and frequency of one or more steroids), reaching a peak amount at mid-cycle and gradually tapering the dose toward the end of the cycle. The escalation of steroid use can vary with different types of
training. Body builders and weight lifters tend to escalate their dose to a much higher level than do long distance runners or swimmers. The adverse effects of large doses of multiple anabolic steroids are not well
established. However, there is increasing evidence of serious health problems associated with the abuse of these agents, including cardiovascular damage, liver damage, and damage to reproductive organs. Physical side
effects include elevated blood pressure and cholesterol levels, severe acne, premature balding, reduced sexual function and testicular atrophy. In males, abnormal breast development (gynecomastia) can occur. In females,
anabolic steroids have a masculinizing effect, resulting in more body hair, a deeper voice, smaller breasts and fewer menstrual cycles. Several of these effects are irreversible. In adolescents, abuse of these agents
may prematurely stop the lengthening of bones, resulting in stunted growth. |
