Transcript Drug: Anabolic Steroids

Drug: Anabolic Steroids
References
NIDA
Iowa Health Systems
Anabolic Steroids
• Aavailable legally only by prescription, to treat
conditions that occur when the body produces
abnormally low amounts of testosterone, such as
delayed puberty and some types of impotence.
• They are also prescribed to treat body wasting in
patients with AIDS and other diseases that result in loss
of lean muscle mass.
• Abuse of anabolic steroids, however, can lead to
serious health problems, some irreversible.
Terms
• Bending - mixing different drugs
• Bulking up - increasing muscle mass through steroids
• Cycling - taking multiple doses of steroids over a specific period of time,
stopping for a time and starting again
• Doping - using drugs and other non-food substances to improve athletic
prowess
• Ergogenic drugs - performance-enhancing substances
• Megadosing - taking massive amounts of steroids by injection or pill
• Plateauing - when a drug becomes ineffective at certain levels
• Roid rages - uncontrolled outbursts of anger, frustration or combativeness
• Shotgunning - taking steroids on a hit-or-miss basis
• Stacking - using a combination of anabolic steroid, often taken in
combination with other drugs
• Tapering - slowly decreasing steroids intake
Steroids
• Three types
– anabolic (male hormone/most frequently abused), cortical, and estrogenic (female
hormone).
• Anabolic steroids
– synthetic derivatives of the male hormone testosterone. The full name is
androgenic anabolic steroids and they promote growth of the skeletal structure
and increase lean body mass.
• Anabolic steroids are taken orally or injected. They are taken in continuous
patterns called "cycling," which occur by starting, stopping and starting again
over a period of weeks or months and changing the dosages of the steroids.
• Users will combine anabolic steroids (“stacking”)often times with other drugs
(stimulants, depressants, painkillers, anti-inflammatories) to maximize their
effectiveness while minimizing negative effects.
Anabolic Steroids
• Short term effects:
– Increase strength
– Increase muscle size
– Help muscle recover
Signs of Addiction/Indications of
Misuse
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Quick weight and muscle gain
Increased combativeness and aggressiveness
Jaundice
Purple or red spots on body; unexplained
darkness of skin
• Persistent unpleasant breath odor
• Swelling feet or lower legs
• Severe acne and/or rashes
Clinical Effects: Physical Risks
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Stunted growth
Increased cholesterol
Sexual function problems
Heart disease
Liver tumors
Jaundice
Fluid retention
High blood pressure
Cancer
Cataracts
Men experience shrinking of the testicles, reduced sperm count, impotence, premature baldness,
enlarged prostate gland, gynecomastia (breast enlargement) and difficulty or pain in urinating
Women take on masculine traits, develop hairiness, deepening of voice, enlargement of clitoris,
breast reduction, change or cessation of menstrual cycle
Death
Extreme irritability
Delusions
Impaired judgement stemming from feelings of invincibility
"Roid" rage or wild mood swings
Manic-like behavior that can lead to violent, even homicidal, episodes
Depression
DSM-IV Diagnostic Criteria for
Substance Abuse
• Recurrent substance use resulting in failure to fulfill
major role obligations at work, school, or home.
• Recurrent substance use in situations in which it is
physically hazardous.
• Recurrent substance-related legal problems.
• Continued substance abuse despite having persistent or
recurrent social or interpersonal problems caused by or
exacerbated by the effects of the substance.
DMS-IV Diagnostic Criteria for
Substance Dependence
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Tolerance, ad defined by either of the following:
– The need for marked increased amounts of the substance to achieve intoxication or desired
effect.
– Markedly diminished effect with continued use of the same amount of the substance.
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Withdrawal, as manifested by either of the following:
– The characteristic withdrawal syndrome for the substance.
– The same (or closely related) substance is taken to relieve or avoid withdrawal symptoms.
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Taking the substance often in larger amounts or over a longer period than was
intended.
A persistent desire or unsuccessful effort to cut down or control substance use.
Spending a great deal of time in activities necessary to obtain or use the substance or
to recover from its effects.
Giving up social, occupational or recreational activities because of substance abuse.
Continuing the substance use with the knowledge that it is causing or exacerbating a
persistent or recurrent physical or psychological problem.
Abused Steroids
• More than 100 different anabolic steroids have
been developed, but they require a prescription
to be used legally in the United States. Most
steroids that are used illegally are smuggled in
from other countries, illegally diverted from U.S.
pharmacies, or synthesized in clandestine
laboratories.
Abused Steroids