Anabolic Steroids

Anabolic steroids, more appropriately called anabol-ic/androgenic steroids, are synthetic and naturally occurring substances related to male sex hormones including testosterone. Anabolic steroids were first discovered in the 1930s. They have been used to treat conditions such as hypogonadism, certain types of impotence, and muscle wasting associated with conditions such as cancer and AIDS. Today, however, the use of anabolic/androgenic steroids is most widely associated with their controversial use as performance enhancing substances in athletic training and competition.

Anabolic/androgenic steroids work by increasing protein synthesis and reducing recovery time via blockage of the hormone cortisol's action on muscle tissues. These effects greatly reduce catabolism of the body's muscle mass. Anabolic effects of anabolic/androgenic steroids are increased muscle mass and strength, increased bone remodeling and growth, increased appetite, and stimulation of bone marrow leading to increased production of red blood cells. These effects are maximized when the steroids are combined with proper diet and exercise. Androgenic effects include growth of the clitoris in females and the growth of the penis in male children, impaired spermatogenesis, increased libido, deepening of the voice, and increased growth in androgen-sensitive hair of the beard, chest, limbs and pubic area.

[Page 127]Unwanted side effects associated with the use of anabolic/androgenic steroids include possible elevation in blood pressure, acne, hepatotoxicity, gingival overgrowth, elevation in low density cholesterol levels, and lowering of high density cholesterol, which increases the long-term risk of cardiovascular disease. Specific to male users, anabolic/androgenic steroids have also been noted to cause male breast development and transient testicular atrophy. Female users may notice the development of masculine features such as hirsutism, deepening of the voice, and male pattern baldness, as well as abnormal menstrual cycles. Heavy users of anabolic/androgenic steroids are known to take the medications for several weeks or months at a time, and then stop their use for varying periods of time. This use pattern is known as “cycling.” Another common usage pattern is the use of multiple anabolic/androgenic steroids simultaneously, a practice known as “stacking.”

Anabolic/androgenic steroids are controlled substances in the United States, and as such can only be obtained legally via a prescription for a legitimate medical need. Most steroids used in the United States are obtained illegally via the black market or the internet. These steroids are smuggled into the United States from other countries with less stringent control of their distribution. The Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 amended the controlled substance act to place anabolic/androgenic steroids and prohormones on a list of controlled substances and made their possession without a prescription a federal crime.

The use and abuse of anabolic/androgenic steroids may date back to ancient Greece. The Greeks were believed to have consumed testicular extracts in attempts to promote androgenic and anabolic growth. There are also multiple traditional Chinese medicines that are purported to bolster virility and male performance as well as being oriented toward muscle growth and athletic ability. Modern anabol-ic/androgenic steroids are available in distinct delivery forms including pills, oil-dissolved or water-dissolved injections, and transdermal forms, which deliver substances through the skin via creams or transdermal patches.

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