Steroids

Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances related to the male sex hormones, particularly testosterone, and as such have a number of physiological effects, particularly anabolic and androgenic effects. Some users claim that anabolic steroid use combined with an intensive training regime will increase muscle size, although not all medical experts agree. Anabolic steroids can make users feel increasingly aggressive and competitive and thus more able to perform strenuous physical activity.

There is an increasing concern of steroid use by young people as it can potentially disrupt the normal pattern of growth and maturation. Anabolic steroids can also cause mood swings which can lead to increased aggression or violence, sometimes referred to as ‘roid rage’. Ananolic steroids can lead to hormonal imbalance, and some men develop breasts and become sterile. There are similar risks for women as they can develop facial hair and have menstrual problems.

There is little data on the number of people use anabolic steroids for non-medical reasons, however a the British Crime Survey estimates that in the 16-59 year old age group around 226,000 people admitted to “ever” having used anabolic steroids, with 50,000 users in the 2010. There is currently not enough evidence to connect chronic anabolic steroid use with dependence, however the positive psychological effects experienced by many users appears to reinforce regular use of steroids.

An ACMD report notes that the majority of anabolic steroids come from the illicit market, although some users do obtain them through prescription. In the UK many anabolic steroids used in ‘stacking’ (using more than one steroid at once) are either not available as licensed products or may only be available for veterinary use.

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