ANABOLIC STEROIDSBY: NATE GLIDDEN

WHAT ARE ANABOLIC STEROIDS?

• ANABOLIC STEROIDS ARE A MAN-MADE VERSION OF THE HORMONE, TESTOSTERONE.

• THE TERM ‘ANABOLIC’ REFERS TO THE FACT THAT THE STEROIDS WORK TO BUILD MUSCLE

COMMON NAMES:

• GEAR• JUICE• ROIDS• STACKERS

MEDICINAL SIDE TO STEROIDS

• STEROIDS CAN BE PRESCRIBED TO A PATIENT BY THERE HEALTH CARE PROVIDER

• WHEN USED IN PROPER DOSES AND SUPERVISED BY A DOCTOR, STEROIDS CAN ACTUALLY BE EXTREMELY HELPFUL IN INCREASING THE TESTOSTERONE LEVELS IN PEOPLE WITH LOW LEVELS.

• “STEROIDS CAN ALSO TREAT DISEASES THAT CAUSE MUSCLE LOSS, SUCH AS CANCER AND AIDS.” –STEROIDS(ANABOLICS)

WHAT ABUSE OF STEROIDS IS

• STEROID ABUSE IS WHEN SOMEONE WHO DOESN’T NEED TO USE STEROIDS, CHOOSES TO TAKE THEM IN ORDER TO GET LARGER IN SIZE QUICKLY.

• MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, ATHLETES AND BODYBUILDERS ARE THE TYPES OF PEOPLE WHO ABUSE STEROIDS.

• ALTHOUGH SOME PEOPLE THINK THAT THERE IS A WAY TO TAKE THE STEROIDS, WHETHER IT BE CYCLING OR STACKING, WITHOUT BEING AT RISK FOR THE SIDE EFFECTS. UNFORTUNATELY, THERE HAS BEEN NO SCIENTIFIC PROOF TO BACK THAT CLAIM.

SHORT-TERM EFFECTS

• PARANOIA/ EXTREME JEALOUSY• IRRITABILITY• IMPAIRED JUDGEMENT• EXTREME MOOD SWINGS/ “ROID RAGE”• USAGE IS COMMONLY KNOWN TO CAUSE EXTREME ACNE

LONG-TERM EFFECTS

• KIDNEY FAILURE/ PROBLEMS• LIVER DAMAGE• ENLARGED HEART, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE, AND OTHER CARDIAC ISSUES• INCREASED RISKS OF HEART ATTACK AND STROKES• EXTENDED USE CAN CAUSE PERMANENT HEALTH PROBLEMS

GENDER SPECIFIC SIDE EFFECTS

MEN• SHRINKING TESTICLES• BALDNESS• DECREASED SPERM COUNT• INCREASED RISK OF PROSTATE

CANCER

WOMEN• GROWTH OF FACIAL HAIR• MALE- PATTERN BALDNESS• CHANGES OR STOP IN THE

MENSTRUAL CYCLE• DEEPENED VOICE• ENLARGED CLITORIS

WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS

• MOOD SWINGS• FATIGUE• RESTLESSNESS• SLEEP PROBLEMS• DECREASED SEX DRIVE• CRAVINGS FOR MORE STEROIDS• DEPRESSION

TREATMENT FOR THE ADDICTION

• NOT MUCH HAS BEEN DISCOVERED IN THE REALM OF TREATMENT FOR STEROID ADDICTION OTHER THAT BEHAVIORAL THERAPY AND MEDICINES TO COMBAT THE SYMPTOMS OF WITHDRAWAL.

• SOME MEDICINES HAVE BEEN ABLE TO RESTORE THE HORMONAL SYSTEMS OF THE PATIENTS

“Persistent reports of anabolic steroid abuse by professional athletes, many of whom are regarded as role models by young people, highlight the fact that we are now facing a very damaging message in our society—that bigger is better, and being the best is more important than how you get there.” –Letter From The Director

• THE INCREASING RATE OF PEOPLE ABUSING STEROIDS IS A VERY SCARY TOPIC BECAUSE OF THE AMOUNT OF YOUNGER CHILDREN LOOKING UP THE ATHLETES OR PEOPLE ABUSING STEROIDS AND THE CHILDREN ARE THINKING THEY NEED TO BE THE SAME AS THEM. IS THERE ANYWAY TO COUNTER THE FALSE IDEOLOGY THAT MEN HAVE TO BE BIG AND MUSCULAR CREATURES?

REFERENCES

• VOLKOW, N. D. (N.D.). LETTER FROM THE DIRECTOR. RETRIEVED MARCH 16, 2016, FROM HTTPS://WWW.DRUGABUSE.GOV/PUBLICATIONS/RESEARCH-REPORTS/ANABOLIC-STEROID-ABUSE/LETTER-DIRECTOR

• STEROIDS (ANABOLIC). (2012). RETRIEVED MARCH 16, 2016, FROM HTTPS://WWW.DRUGABUSE.GOV/DRUGS-ABUSE/STEROIDS-ANABOLIC