A rough guide to drugs
Legal Status It is not illegal to possess anabolic steroids. |
...come in tablet form, and also as a liquid that is injected. Popular with bodybuilders, athletes and other sports people because of their performance enhancing effects.
Effects & Risks
• Sports enthusiasts take steroids to help them to train harder. If taken during a strict exercise regime, they can help build muscle mass. They may also help users recover from strenuous exercise faster.
• Normally calm people can become aggressive or even violent.
• It’s particularly dangerous for young people, as it can affect normal growth.
• Injecting steroids carries all the same health risks as injecting any substance: abscesses, swelling, blood clots, vein damage, ulcers and gangrene – also, sharing injecting equipment increases the risk of HIV and Hepatitis.
• If you’re male, you can get erection problems, grow breasts, become sterile and develop acne.
• It can also make your testicles shrink.
• If you’re female, you can get extra facial hair, a deep voice, shrinking breasts and an increased risk of menstrual problems.
• It can cause mood swings and ultimately long-term depression.
• It can cause paranoia, confusion and sleeping problems.
• Anabolic steroids can also give you high blood pressure and increase your risk of having a stroke, heart attack or cause liver failure.
Overdose
Although an overdose is not possible, there are dangers associated with its use as the effects listed above show.
Addiction
Anabolic steroids are not physically addictive but a user can quickly become psychologically dependent. Withdrawal can include lethargy and depression.
