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WHAT ARE STEROIDS
GET THE FACTS
BEFORE YOU RISK IT
KNOW THE SIGNS
GET HELP

Steroids

There are many kinds of steroids, but when you hear about them in the news in relation to sports, “doping,” or performance enhancement, they almost always mean Anabolic-androgenic steroids. These are man-made substances that are related to male sex hormones such as testosterone (the same stuff that make boys start puberty).¹

When used legally, these drugs help patients who do not produce enough natural testosterone or whose muscles are wasting away from a debilitating disease like AIDS or injury such as paralysis. Any use without a prescription can lead to serious health problems, some irreversible, even death.² Often patients who carefully use steroids with the direction of a doctor, still have negative side affects.

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Get the Facts

Steroids affect your heart. Steroid abuse has been associated with cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. These heart problems can even happen to athletes under the age of 30.³

Steroids affect your liver and kidneys. Steroids can cause high blood pressure and kidney and liver tumors. Steroid use can also cause blood-filled cysts to develop in the liver. Both the tumors and cysts can rupture, causing internal bleeding.⁴

Steroids affect your appearance. In both sexes, steroids can cause male-pattern baldness, cysts, acne, and oily hair and skin.⁵

Steroids can affect your growth. Under normal conditions, sex hormones trigger growth spurts during puberty and also signal the body to stop growing when they reach a certain level. When teens take steroids, the resulting high sex hormone levels can signal bones to prematurely stop growing, stunting the user's growth.⁶

Steroids affect gender-specific features:

For girls-growing of facial hair, shrinking of the breasts, deepened voice, masculine changes in the shape of the face, and cessation of the menstrual cycle.⁷

For boys-shrinking of the testicles, development of breasts, and infertility.⁸

Steroids affect your mood. Steroids can make you angry and hostile for no reason. This is commonly referred to as “roid rage.” This can also include suicidal thoughts and/or attempts, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, and insomnia. There are many cases of steroids causing users to become violent towards themselves and others and some users developed behavioral problems that were so extreme that they could not function within their workplace or society.⁹

Steroids increase your risk of infection. Sharing needles or using dirty needles to inject steroids puts you at risk for diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis. Because many steroids are imported illegally, they can be tainted with bacteria, toxins, or other dangerous byproducts.¹⁰

Steroids are addictive. Withdrawal symptoms include mood swings, suicidal thoughts and/or attempts, fatigue, restlessness, loss of appetite, desire to take more steroids, and insomnia.¹¹

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Before You Risk It

Know the law. Steroids are illegal to possess without a prescription from a licensed physician. It is illegal for individuals to sell steroids.¹²

Get the facts. Doctors prescribe steroids for specific medical conditions and are only safe for use when a doctor monitors the patient. Monthly blood tests are required to check for liver damage.

Know the risks. Illegal steroids are made overseas and smuggled into the United States or made in underground labs in this country. They pose greater health risks because they are not regulated by the government and may not be pure or labeled correctly.¹³

Look around you. The majority of teens aren't using steroids. Among teenage males, where most steroid use is concentrated, past year use was reported by 1.1 percent of 8th graders, 1.3 percent of 10th graders, and 1.5 percent of 12th graders.¹⁴

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Know the Signs

How can you tell if a friend is abusing steroids? Sometimes it's hard to tell. But there are signs you can look for. If your friend has one or more of the following warning signs, he or she may be abusing steroids:

For Guys:

• Baldness
• Development of breasts
• Impotence

For Girls:

• Growth of facial hair
• Deepened voice
• Breast reduction

For Both:

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin)
• Swelling of feet or ankles
• Aching joints
• Bad breath
• Mood swings
• Nervousness
• Trembling

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Get Help

What can you do to help someone who is abusing steroids? Be a real friend. You might even save a life. Encourage your friend to stop or seek professional help. For information and referrals, contact the National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information:

SAMHSA's National Clearinghouse for Alcohol and Drug Information
800-729-6686
linea gratis en español 877-767-8432
Web site: ncadi.samhsa.gov

The bottom line: If you know someone who abuses steroids, urge him or her to get help. If you're abusing them--stop! The longer you ignore the real facts, the more chances you take with your life. It's never too late. Talk to your parents, a doctor, a counselor, a teacher, or another adult you trust. Do it today!

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