Are steroids addictive? One in a series… Yes, they can be. Alcohol Hallucinogens Do You Know... Alcohol, Other Drugs Heroin Addiction to steroids differs from many other drugs and Driving Inhalants in that tolerance to the effects does not develop. Amphetamines Ketamine However, some people who abuse steroids meet Anabolic Steroids criteria for drug dependence in that they LSD Benzodiazepines Generic and trade names: oxymotholone (Anadrol®), · continue to take steroids, even when they experience Methadone ® ® Caffeine methandrostenolone (Dianobol ), stanozolol (Winstrol ), negative physical or emotional effects nandrolone decanoate (Deca-Durabolin®), Methamphetamine Cannabis ® · spend large amounts of time and money obtaining testosterone cypionate (Depo-Testosterone ), ® Cocaine Opioids boldenone undecylenate (Equipoise ) and others the drugs Street names: the juice, the white stuff, roids · experience withdrawal symptoms such as mood Ecstasy Rohypnol swings, fatigue, restlessness, depression, loss of GHB Tobacco What are they? appetite, insomnia, reduced sex drive and the Many kinds of steroids occur naturally in desire to take more steroids. various hormones and vitamins. Drugs known as “anabolic steroids” are made in What are the long-term effects laboratories and have the same chemical For more information on addiction and mental health issues, structure as the steroids found in the male of taking steroids? or a copy of this brochure, please contact the Centre for sex hormone, testosterone. The muscle- Some of the effects of steroids disappear when drug Addiction and Mental Health’s 24-hour Information Line: ONTARIO TOLL-FREE:1 800 463-6273 building (anabolic) and masculinizing use is stopped, but others are permanent. The effects Anabolic Steroids TORONTO: 416 595-6111 (androgenic) effects of these drugs make of long-term use include: To order multiple copies of this brochure, or other CAMH them appealing to athletes and bodybuilders. · acne, cysts, oily hair and skin, and thinning scalp resource materials, please contact: hair in both sexes Marketing and Sales Services TEL.: 1 800 661-1111 or 416 595-6059 in Toronto Anabolic steroids have few medical uses. · feminization in men, including permanent breast E-MAIL: [email protected] Their primary use is to promote weight gain development and muscle development in farm animals. To make a donation, please contact: · testicle shrinking, difficulty or pain urinating and Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Foundation They are rarely prescribed to humans; increased risk of prostate cancer in men TEL.: 416 979-6909 however, they are sometimes used to treat E-MAIL: [email protected] · masculinization in women, including breast size delayed puberty, some types of impotence, and body fat reduction, coarsening of the skin, If you have questions, compliments or concerns and wasting of the body caused by AIDS about services at CAMH, please call our and other diseases. enlargement of the clitoris, deepening of the voice, Client Relations Co-ordinator at: excessive growth of body hair, loss of scalp hair TEL.: 416 535-8501 ext. 2028 Steroidal “supplements,” such as and changes or cessation of the menstrual cycle; Visit our Web site at: www.camh.net with long-term use, some of these effects may dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), are Copyright © 2003 Centre for Addiction and Mental Health be permanent · in children or adolescents, the high levels of testosterone stop bone growth, preventing them from ever growing to full height · aggression and violence; personality changes revert A Pan American Health Organization / World Health Organization when drug use is stopped. Collaborating Centre Affiliated with the University of Toronto Disponible en français 2502 / 11-03 P256 converted into testosterone or a similar compound in · Stacking: taking two or more types of steroids, How do steroids make you feel? the body. Although little research has been done on mixing oral and injectable forms, believing the Steroids can produce a variety of psychological effects steroidal supplements, if taken in large quantities, different drugs interact to have greater effect. ranging from euphoria to hostility. Some people who they likely produce the same effects, and the same take steroids say the drugs make them feel powerful side-effects, as anabolic steroids. DHEA is not Who uses steroids? and energetic. However, steroids are also known to available in Canada, but is sold in health food stores Most non-medical use of steroids is by athletes who increase irritability, anxiety and aggression and cause and on the Internet in the United States. believe that these drugs will help them to win, and mood swings, manic symptoms and paranoia, by bodybuilders and young men who think they will particularly when taken in high doses. Where do steroids come from? look better with bigger muscles. Anabolic steroids manufactured by pharmaceutical Variations in how people respond to steroids may be companies are available legally only by prescription. People who use steroids to improve athletic perfor- due in part to individual differences, or depend on Most steroids used by athletes are smuggled, stolen mance and build muscles are mostly men; however, which type of steroid was taken. Scientific under- or made in clandestine laboratories. Veterinary drugs the highest increase in use is among young women. standing of the effects of non-medical anabolic are often used. U.S. studies have also noted a disturbing increase in steroid use is limited. use among adolescents concerned about body image. Although trafficking these drugs is illegal, the Some people take steroids because they have a High doses, especially when taken orally, cause penalities imposed tend to be minor. Possession disorted body image where they believe their muscles of steroids is legal. nausea, vomiting and gastric irritation. Other effects are small or that they have too much body fat, even include fluid retention and trembling. What do steroids look like, when they are lean and muscular. Steroid use has also and how are they used? been found among people with a history of abuse or Are steroids dangerous? Anabolic steroids come in the form of tablets, assault who wish to build muscles in order to protect Yes. Taking high doses of steroids increases risk of capsules, a solution for injection and a cream or gel themselves better. · enlargement and abnormalities of the heart, blood to rub into the skin. Weightlifters and bodybuilders clots, high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke. who use steroids often take doses that are up to Steroid use is banned by the International Olympic Steroid-related heart failure has occurred in athletes 100 times greater than those used to treat medical Committee and many other amateur and professional younger than 30. conditions. sports organizations. But because drug testing is · aggression and violence (“roid rage”), negative costly, tests of professional athletes are generally personality change, mania and depression, which Regimented methods of taking steroids are believed “random,” and are often preceded by a warning. may lead to suicide. Depression may persist for to enhance the effects of these drugs and lessen harm Regular mandatory testing is standard only at the a year after drug use is stopped. to the body. However, there is no scientific evidence international level of competition. · hepatitis, liver enlargement and liver cancer to back up these claims. Such methods include the · reduced fertility in both women and men following: Successful prevention of steroid abuse focuses on · tendon ruptures, cessation of growth in adolescents teaching people about how to refuse drugs and about · hepatitis or HIV if steroids are injected using shared · Cycling: a period of taking and then not taking the other ways to build muscle bulk and strength. needles, and infections if steroids are injected with drugs in the belief that the drug-free cycle allows dirty needles. the body to recover normal hormone levels · Pyramiding: taking doses in cycles of six to 12 weeks, starting with a low dose, then slowly increasing it, and then decreasing the amount to zero, believing this allows the body time to adjust to Anabolic Steroids the high doses.