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Steroid Abuse: Statistics, Side Effects, & Treatment

Steroids are a type of synthetic appearance and performance enhancing drug (APED) designed to mimic the effects of the male hormone testosterone.1 Steroids cause a person to develop more muscle, as well as enhancing the development of male sexual characteristics.1

The majority of steroid use occurs with young males trying to enhance their appearance.1 In the U.S., anywhere from 2.9 to 4 million people, 98% of whom are men, have used steroids at some point.2

While steroids and other types of APEDs do not cause a euphoric high like some other drugs, a person can develop a substance use disorder (SUD) that involves steroids, which means a person keeps using a substance despite negative outcomes.1 The use of steroids can lead to serious outcomes, such as psychiatric disorders, liver tumors, strokes, heart attacks, and kidney failure.1 If you or your loved one are struggling with steroid abuse, know that there is help available. In this article, you will learn more about:

  • What are anabolic steroids?
  • Who abuses steroids and why?
  • The side effects of steroid abuse.
  • Signs of steroid abuse.
  • How to find steroid abuse treatment.

What Are Anabolic Steroids?

Anabolic steroids are a subtype of APEDs.1 Anabolic steroids are a type of synthetic drug which are variants of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone.3 The majority of steroid use occurs with young men trying to either build muscle and enhance their appearance or to help with athletic performance.2

The most common steroids sold illicitly are testosterone, trenbolone, oxymetholone, methandrostenolone, boldenone, nandrolone, oxandrolone, and stanozolol.3 On the street, steroids may be called:3

  • Juice.
  • Stackers.
  • Weight Gainers.
  • Roids.
  • Pumpers.

Steroids may be diverted from legal prescriptions, but many are also manufactured illegally.3 People most often buy steroids online, but many people acquire steroids from gyms, coaches, and through bodybuilding competitions.3

Steroids can be found in several forms, including:3

  • Tablets or capsules.
  • Sublingual tablets.
  • Drops.
  • Liquids that can be injected.
  • Gels and creams.
  • Transdermal patches.

Steroids may be applied to the skin, swallowed, or injected.3 A common practice among those who use steroids is stacking, in which people take different types of steroids together, believing that the cumulative effects of these steroids will provide greater muscle mass than just 1 type of steroid alone.1 People who abuse steroids will also engage in a cycle of such use, where they stack steroids for a period of time and then stop for a while and begin again.1

Steroids and Addiction

It is important to know that addiction to steroids is possible.1 People who use steroids show patterns of use that indicate a SUD, such as developing tolerance.1 Tolerance means that the person requires more and more of a substance to keep experiencing the effects of the substance.1

People who have a SUD will also keep taking a substance despite knowing that the use of the substance leads to physical and/or psychological issues.1 People who use steroids will often keep using them, even knowing that the steroids cause side effects, such as breast growth in men, aggression, mood swings, or high blood pressure. 1

Another symptom of a SUD is when a person spends a lot of time and money obtaining and using a substance, which is often the case with people who abuse steroids.1 Furthermore, people can experience withdrawal from steroids, another symptom of a SUD.1 People who become dependent on steroids and then stop using them will often experience depression, fatigue, restlessness, craving for steroids, insomnia, and loss of libido.1

The effects of steroids on the body typically include an increase in muscle mass, but there are numerous side effects, both mild and severe, that will be discussed more in detail below.

Athletes and Steroid Use

Contrary to popular perception, the majority of steroid use is not among athletes but rather among men who are trying to enhance their physical appearance.2 Athletes who do use steroids will often use them as a way to try to enhance their performance, a practice that is often called doping.1 Anabolic steroid abuse is more common in the sports where strength is seen as highly important, such as weightlifting, football, and shot-putting, and less likely in sports that prize agility and speed.1

One study from 2021 indicated that around 0.6% of male college athletes and 0.1% of female-identified college athletes used anabolic steroids.4

Side Effects of Steroid Abuse

The side effects of steroid use can be mild but can also be highly dangerous.1 The side effects involve many areas of the body, as well as affecting a person’s mental health and behaviors.1 Short-term effects from steroid abuse can include:1,3

  • Mood changes and aggression.
  • Increased feelings of well-being.
  • Increased muscle mass.
  • Acne.
  • Fluid retention.
  • Increased strength.
  • High blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.

For women, the side effects of steroid use can cause permanent changes, such as:3

  • Deepening of the voice.
  • Coarsening of the skin.
  • Male pattern baldness.
  • Menstrual irregularities.
  • Increased growth of facial and body hair.

If men keep taking steroids, it can potentially:3

  • Stunt growth in younger men.
  • Create an increased risk of prostate cancer.
  • Cause sterility.
  • Shrink the testicles.
  • Decrease sperm count.
  • Enlarge the breasts.

For both men and women, ongoing steroid use can result in:1

  • Heart attacks.
  • Strokes.
  • Liver disease.

When people inject steroids, they put themselves at an increased risk of blood-borne diseases from needles that include HIV and hepatitis, as well as infections at the injection sites from dirty needles.1

Signs of Steroid Use

No 2 people are alike, and people are affected by steroids in different ways. However, some common signs of steroid use include:3,6

  • Rapid increase in muscle size and strength.
  • Shrinking testicles, breast enlargement, and low sperm count in men.
  • Development of facial hair, irregular menses, and deepening of voice in women.
  • In adolescents, stunted growth, as well as rapid onset of secondary sexual characteristics.
  • Mood swings and aggression.

Steroids and Other Drugs

It is not uncommon to see people who abuse steroids also misuse other drugs as well.1 Using more than one substance at a time is called polysubstance use, which can be dangerous because mixing drugs together can be unpredictable.7 It is not uncommon to see people use opioids along with steroids, as the opioids are often used to manage steroid side effects that can include insomnia, depression, irritability, and withdrawal.1

Help for Steroid Abuse

As with any type of SUD, steroid addiction can be treated, and treatments can include a combination of behavioral therapy and medication.1

Steroid rehab can take place in different settings that include inpatient programs, where you stay 24/7 for a time.8 Rehab can also occur in an outpatient setting, where you may attend for a few hours a day, for a few days per week.8 Whether you are in an inpatient or outpatient treatment program, you typically receive a combination of group and individual counseling.8

The duration and intensity of services for a steroid addiction treatment program vary from one person to another and depend upon various factors. Treatment is most effective when it is tailored to the needs of the person involved.8

If you or your loved one need addiction treatment for steroids or any substance, call us today at . Our admissions navigators can help you find the right treatment setting and answer any questions you may have about the admissions process. Our admissions navigators can also help verify your insurance benefits and coverage and help you determine how insurance can help with paying for addiction treatment.

Steroid Addiction and Treatment FAQs

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