Steroids abuse

Anabolic steroids are primarily used by bodybuilders, athletes, and fitness enthusiasts who claim that steroids give them a competitive advantage and improve their physical performance. Body guards, construction workers, and law enforcement officers are also known to take these drugs. Some researches suggest that 2.5% of high school pupils in the United States will have taken illegal steroids at some time. This is particularly worrying considering the very high risks of steroid abuse in those people under the age of 18.

Steroids and addiction

Several recent studies have suggested that long-time steroid users and steroid abusers may experience the classic characteristics of addiction, which include:

• cravings,
• difficulty in stopping steroid use, even when they want to and have tried repeatedly
• withdrawal symptoms

People who wish to stop abusing steroids but have difficulty accomplishing their goal can therefore benefit from addiction counseling, in the same way as those who may try to stop gambling or drinking alcohol.

Anabolic steroid side effects

Typical problems that can be found in people who have been abusing anabolic steroids for long periods of time include liver tumors and cancer, jaundice, retention of fluid, high blood pressure, heart attacks and strokes, increases in LDL, kidney cancer, acne and trembling. Another common complication is gynecomastia. Condition characterized by growth of the breasts which is generally irreversible and plastic surgery is required to remove the breasts.

Risks for women
Several research studies have proven that women can start looking like men with growing beards, balding and voice breaking, while their menstrual cycle changes or stops, and the clitoris enlarges.

Risks for teenagers
Steroid abuse is particularly risky for teenagers, because it forces the body rapidly to adulthood and causes the bones to stop growing permanently.  

Risks of infection
The practice of injecting steroids carries all the other risks associated with injecting such as infection with HIV, and hepatitis B or hepatitis C.  

Are Steroids Illegal?

STEROIDS ARE ILLEGAL almost everywhere, unless prescribed by a doctor for legitimate reasons, and most of them are considered a Class C drug which means that, without a doctor's prescription for a medical condition, it's against the law to possess, sell, or distribute anabolic steroids.

The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 placed anabolic steroids into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. Under this legislation, anabolic steroids are defined as any drug or hormonal substance chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone that promotes muscle growth.
The first-time possession of anabolic steroids carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a $1,000 fine. For first-offense trafficking in steroids, the maximum penalty is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000. Second offenses doubles this penalty. In addition to federal penalties, state laws also prohibit illegal anabolic steroid use. While the above listed penalties are for federal offenses, individual states have also implemented fines and penalties for illegal use of anabolic steroids.

Smuggling

There are several sources for purposes of illegal use. The most common illegal source is smuggling steroids into the U.S. from other countries such as Mexico and European countries where a prescription is not required for the purchase of steroids. Less often steroids found in the illicit market are diverted from legitimate sources or produced in clandestine laboratories.