Steroids are drugs derived from hormones. Anabolic steroids are one group of these drugs.
Anabolic steroids - or more precisely, anabolic/androgenic steroids - belong to a group known as ergogenic, or so-called 'performance-enhancing,' drugs. They are synthetic derivatives of testosterone, a natural male hormone. 'Anabolic' means growing or building. 'Androgenic' means masculinizing or generating male sexual characteristics.
Anabolic steroids are used in small quantities by physicians for treating some types of anaemia, thrombosis, some breast cancers, osteoporosis, endometriosis and hereditary angioedaema, a rare disease involving swelling of some parts of the body.
Anabolic steroids are designed to mimic the body-building traits of testosterone - by increasing protein production within cells - while minimizing its masculinizing effects. There are several types, with various combinations of anabolic and androgenic properties.
These drugs also appear to increase blood volume and glycogen (blood sugar), and to inhibit the natural process whereby muscles cells that are no longer required are eliminated.
| Abuse of anabolic steroids |
The abuse of anabolic steroids by a small minority of athletes is relatively new. They were first developed in 1958 and although it was soon realized these drugs had unwanted side effects, it was too late to halt their spread into the sports world.
Early users were mainly bodybuilders, weightlifters, discus, shot put or javelin throwers -all competitors who rely heavily on physical bulk and strength. During the 1970's demand grew as athletes in other sports sought the competitive edge that anabolic steroids seemed to provide.
The abuse of anabolic steroids is not confined to males. Professional and amateur female athletes-track and field competitors, swimmers and bodybuilders may also abuse them.
By the 1980's, as non-athletes also discovered the body-enhancing properties of steroids, a black market began to flourish for the illegal production and sale of the drugs.
It's not only athletes who may use anabolic steroids. It may be an 18-year-old who loathes his skinny body. Or a 15-year old in a hurry to reach maturity, or a person who wants more muscle power to do their job.
Increasing numbers of adolescents are turning to steroids for cosmetic reasons.
Anabolic steroids are usually taken in pill form. Some that cannot be absorbed orally are taken by injection. The normal prescribed daily dose for medical purposes usually averages between 1 and 5 milligrams. Some athletes may take up to hundreds of milligrams a day, far exceeding medically recommended dosages.
Until recently most anabolic steroids that were abused were lawfully manufactured drugs that were diverted to the black market through theft and fraudulent prescriptions.
Now black-market anabolic steroids are either made overseas and smuggled into the UK or are produced in clandestine laboratories here. These counterfeit drugs may present greater health risks because they are manufactured without controls and thus may be impure, mislabeled or simply bogus.
Sales of anabolic steroids are made in gyms, health clubs etc., and by overseas mail-order. Suppliers may be drug dealers or they may be trainers, physicians, pharmacists or friends.
| What effect do they have? |
Athletes who have used anabolic steroids report a significant increases in lean muscle mass, strength and endurance, but no studies have shown that these drugs enhance performance.
| Consequences of steroid abuse |
For men
Men who take large doses of anabolic steroids typically experience changes in sexual characteristics. Although derived from a male sex hormone, the drug can trigger a mechanism in the body that can actually shut down the healthy functioning of the male reproductive system. Some possible side effects are:
- Shrinking of the testicles
- Reduced sperm count
- Impotence
- Baldness
- Difficulty or pain in urinating
- Development of breasts
- Enlarged prostate
For women
Females may experience 'masculinization' as well as other problems such as:
- Growth of facial hair
- Changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle
- Enlargement of the clitoris
- Deepened voice
- Breast reduction
For both sexes
For both men and women, continued use of anabolic steroids may lead to health conditions ranging from merely irritating to life-threatening. Some effects are:
- Acne
- Jaundice
- Trembling
- Swelling of feet or ankles
- Bad breath
- Reduction in HDL, the 'good' cholesterol
- High blood pressure
- Liver damage and cancers
- Aching joints
- Increased chance of injury to tendons, ligaments, and muscles
Many athletes report 'feeling good' about themselves while on a steroids regimen. Yet large mood swings are commonly seen, ranging from periods of aggression to bouts of depression when the drugs are stopped.
Addiction
Long-term steroids users seem to experience many of the characteristics of classic addiction: cravings, difficulty in ceasing steroids use and withdrawal symptoms.
It appears that abusers can develop a psychological, if not physical, dependence on anabolic steroids. A classic symptom of this is that users tend to overlook or simply ignore the physical dangers and moral implications of taking illegal substances.
Certain delusional behavior that is characteristic of addiction can occur. Some athletes who 'bulk up' on anabolic steroids are unaware of body changes that are obvious to others, experiencing what is sometimes called reverse anorexia.
Legal consequences
At present it is legal to possess anabolic steroids in the UK. However, it is an offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act to supply anabolic steroids to another person. Under present UK law the penalties for supplying anabolic steroids are the same as those for supplying any Class B controlled substance.
The International Olympics Committee banned steroids use by all athletes in its member associations in 1975. Since then most major amateur and professional organizations have put the drugs on their list of banned substances. Such bans do not carry any legal penalties.
