Anabolic Steroids
An-a-bol-ic Ste-roids
Full Name- Androgenic Anabolic Steroids
Street Names
- Arnolds
- Gym Candy
- Pumpers
- Stackers
- Weight Trainers
- Juice
Slang Terms Associated With Steroid Use
- Roid Rage- uncontrollable outbursts of anger, frustration, or combativeness that may result from using anabolic steroids
- Shotgunning- taking steroids on an inconsistent basis
- Stacking- using a combination of two or more anabolic steroids
Why Do People Use Steroids?
- Steroids can physically enhance someones athletic performance
- They can increase your muscle size and strength
- They can also decrease your amount of body fat
History of Steroids
During World War II, steroids were used to:
- Treat wounded soldiers
- Help patients heal from surgery
- Attempt to bring survivors of concentration camps back from the brink of starvation
It didn't take long for people to realize that steroids can be used to gain an advantage in competition. The first reported use of steroid use was on a racing horse, Holliday, in 1941.
Effects of Steroids
Steroids affect your appearance
- Male-pattern baldness
- Cysts (closed pouch or sack of fluid that developes in the body)
- Acne
- Oily hair and skin
Steroids affect your mood
- They can make you angry and hostile for no reason
- There are recorded cases of murder attributed to intense anger from steroid use
How to Tell if Someone is Using Steroids
Guys
- Baldness
- Developement of breasts
- Impotence
Girls
- Growth of facial hair
- Deepened voice
- Breast reduction
Both
- Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
- Swelling of feet and ankles
- Aching joints
- Bad breath
- Mood swings
- Nervousness
- Trembling
Withdrawl Symptoms
- Mood swings
- Suicidal thoughts/attempts
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
- Loss of appetite
- Sleepiness
Steroid Brand Names
- Androsterone
- Oxandrin
- Dianabol
- Winstrol
- Decadurabolin
- Equipoise
Know the Law
- Steroids are illegal for people to have without a prescription from a licensed physician
- Doctors perscribe steroids for specific medical conditions
- It is only safe when a doctor monitors the person
- It is illegal for individuals to sell steroids
Know the Risk
- Steroids are made illegally overseas and smuggled into the US or made in underground labs in the country
- This poses a greater threat because they aren't regulated by the government and may not be pure or labeled correctly
Ways to Ingest Steroids
- Take pills
- Inject (with needles) Steroids into muscles
- Injected steroids may be detected in the body for 3-4 months
- Oral remain in your body for 1-4 weeks
Steroids increase your risk for infection
- Sharing needles or using dirty needles to inject steroids puts you at risk for diseases such as HIV/AIDS or hepatitis
Health Problems from Steroids
- High blood pressure
- Changes in blood cholesterol (increase in "bad cholestrerol" (LDL) and decrease in "good cholesterol" (HDL))
- Enlarged heart
- Heart attack or stroke (even in young people)
- Kidney problems or failure
- Severe acne
- Stunting growth
Steroids can be taken as a pill
Don't take steroids unless prescribed by a doctor
Steroids can be injected
Place to Get Help
Addiction Treatment Hotline
1-855-205-0832
Addiction Recovery Hotline
1-855-733-9563
Steroid Help Hotline
(563) 557-9111
Recovery Connection
800-993-3869
Steroids can cause balding
Steroids can cause facial hair in females
Steroids can cause yellow skin (Jaundice)
Bibliography
- "The Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks." Elks.org. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
- Knight, Erin. Dealing With Drugs. New York: Crabtree, 2012. Print. Steroids.
- "NIDA for Teens." NIDA for Teens. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.
- "Create A Graph." Kids Learning with NCEs. Kids' Zone, n.d. Web.
- "Google Images." Google Images. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2015.