What are they?
Hormones which control growth, physical development and the functioning of the reproductive organs. They occur naturally in the body but are also manufactured. They are used medically to treat anaemia, breast cancer and thrombosis and for recovery after long periods of bed rest. They increase muscle tissue.
Street Names
Medical names are usually used such as anadrol, anavar, dianabol, durabolin, equipoise, maxibolin, nadrolone, stanazolol, testosterone and winstrol.
How are they taken?
Tablets are swallowed. In liquid form they can be injected.
Extent of use
They are available from gyms and by mail order. Use has increased in recent years although large-scale surveys still show only 1% of adults have ever used them. Apart from medical prescribing, they are mainly used by adults who are into sports or body building in a big way. Injecting is common and some needle exchanges in the UK have large numbers of steroid, as well as heroin injectors.
Effects of Use
- Using anabolic steroids whilst training increases body weight and the size of muscles.
- Users may become more able to perform strenuous physical activity.
- They may also become aggressive and 'weird'.
- Both men and women users may experience an increase in sex drive. However, in men this may be followed by a slump in sex drive.
Risks of use
- Water retention and high blood pressure.
- Liver abnormalities and hepatitis.
- Among injectors, hepatitis and HIV if injecting equipment is shared.
- In men reduced sperm output and quality, and over development of breasts.
- In women menstrual problems and enlarged clitoris.
- Women may also develop 'male characteristics' such as growth of body and facial hair, a deeper voice and decreased breast size. This is often irreversible even after steroid use stops.
- Sleep problems, confusion, depression and paranoia, which tend to lessen or disappear once people stop using steroids.
- Psychological dependence where regular users feel they cannot perform without being on steroids. Some regular users feel depressed and lacking energy when they stop using, and continue to use to avoid these feelings.
The Law
They are controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act as Class C drugs. In most cases the possession offence is waived so it is not usually illegal to be in possession of steroids without a doctor's prescription. A few people have been prosecuted for possession when they are not in the form of a medicine. It is an offence to sell or supply them to another person.
