Steroids – a Class of Drug

"Steroids" refers to the class of drugs. These drugs are available legally only by prescription, to treat conditions that occur when the body produces abnormally low amounts of testosterone, such as delayed puberty and some types of impotence. They are also used to treat body wasting in patients with AIDS and other diseases that result in loss of lean muscle mass. Abuse of anabolic steroids, however, can lead to serious health problems, some irreversible.

Health Hazards

The major side effects from abusing anabolic steroids can include;
* Liver Tumors
* Cancer
* Jaundice (yellowish pigmentation of skin, tissues, and body fluids),
* Fluid retention
* High blood pressure
* Increases in LDL (bad cholesterol)
* Decreases in HDL (good cholesterol)

Other side effects include;
* kidney tumors
* severe acne
* trembling

In addition, there are some gender-specific side effects:

For Men
* Shrinking of the testicles
* reduced sperm count
* baldness
* development of breasts
* increased risk for prostate cancer.

For women
* Growth of facial hair
* Male-pattern baldness
* Changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle
* Enlargement of the clitoris
* Deepened voice.

In addition, people who inject anabolic steroids run the added risk of;
* Contracting or transmitting HIV/AIDS
* Hepatitis, which causes serious damage to the liver

Psychological Impacts

Scientific research also shows that aggression and other psychiatric side effects may result from abuse of anabolic steroids. Many users report feeling good about themselves while on anabolic steroids, but researchers report that extreme mood swings also can occur, including manic-like symptoms leading to violence. Depression often is seen when the drugs are stopped and may contribute to dependence on anabolic steroids. Researchers report also that users may suffer from paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility.

Research also indicates that some users might turn to other drugs to alleviate some of the negative effects of anabolic steroids. For example, a study of 227 men admitted in 1999 to a private treatment center for dependence on heroin or other opioids found that 9.3 percent had abused anabolic steroids before trying any other illicit drug. Of these 9.3 percent, 86 percent first used opioids to counteract insomnia and irritability resulting from the anabolic steroids.2

(National Institute of Drug Abuse, Rockville, Maryland) click here: http://www.nida.nih.gov/Infofax/steroids.html

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