Steriods

Quick Facts

What are steroids (anabolic)?

  • Anabolic steroids are man-made versions of testosterone. Health care providers use anabolic steroids to treat some hormone problems in men, delayed puberty, and muscle loss from other diseases. 
  • Some people abuse steroids to build muscle and improve athletic performance. Using steroids this way is not legal and is unsafe. 
  • Even though they don’t cause a high, anabolic steroids can be addictive can have withdrawal symptoms. In addition, stopping steroid use can cause depression, often leading to resumption of use  

What are some street names for steroids?

  • Arnolds, Gear, Gym Candy, Juice, Pumpers, Roids, Stackers, Weight Gainers

How are steroids used/abused?

  • Steroids are commonly taken orally, injected into muscles, or applied to the skin as a gel or cream. The doses abused are often 10 to 100 times higher than the approved therapeutic and medical treatment dosages used by medical providers. 

What are the short-term effects of steroid use?

  • Builds muscle
  • Improved athletic performance
  • Acne
  • Fluid retention (especially in the hands and feet)
  • Oily skin
  • Yellowing of the skin
  • Skin infection

What are the long-term effects of steroid use?

  • Kidney damage or failure
  • Liver damage
  • High blood pressure
  • Enlarged heart or changes in cholesterol leading to increased risk of stroke or heart attack, even in young people
  • Unusual aggression ("roid rage")
  • Extreme mood swings
  • Extreme irritability
  • Delusions
  • Impaired judgement 

What are other health issues related to steroid use?

  • If steroids are injected, there is a risk of contracting HIV, hepatitis, and other infectious diseases from shared needles. 
  • In males: 
    • Shrunken testicles, lowered sperm count, infertility, baldness, and development of breasts
  • In females: 
    • Abnormal facial and body hair, male-pattern baldness, enlargement of clitoris, deepened voice, and changes to menstrual cycle
  • In adolescents: stunted growth

Treatment Options

  • Yamhill County Substance Use Programs offer a wide array of treatment options and programs for adults and youth, please visit our Alcohol and Drug Treatment page, or call 503-434-7523 for more information..

Sources and Other Resources