In this age of superficiality and the importance of appearance, of 6 pack and 8 pack abs , of quick fixes and Maggie noodle expectations of solutions to problems, young men are driven to look good and muscular and workout and aim to reach the bodies of their idols or attract females.
In this pursuit Anabolic steroids are used to enhance appearance and performance during workouts.
Anabolic steroids tend to increase endurance and the ability to lift higher weights quickly and increase muscle mass in a shorter span of time than by regular sustained working out. The addiction is the outcome of its use. Despite damage to the body and the mind, the obsessive continued use of anabolic steroids is the addictive pattern.
Modes of Use
As a consequence the use and abuse of these drugs have increased across the world. They are usually obtained illegally and self-medicated orally or self-injected.
Prevalence
The users are usually in the 20s-30s age group mostly male as most females do not like an overly muscular body.
Commonly Misused Steroids
Oral Steroids
- Anadrol (oxymetholone)
- Anavar (oxandrolone)
- Dianabol (methandienone )
- Winstrol (stanozolol)
- Restandol (testosterone undecanoate)
Injectable Steroid
- Deca-Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate)
- Durabolin (nandrolone phenpropionate)
- Depo-Testosterone (testosterone cypionate)
- Agovirin (testosterone propionate)
- Retandrol (testosterone phenylpropionate)
- Equipoise (boldenone undecylenate
Usage Patterns
Cycling- Using multiple doses of steroids for a cycle then stopping it and giving a gap and re starting.
Stacking- Using different types of anabolic steroids in oral or injectable forms the belief being doing this will increase muscle size.
Pyramiding- taking the steroids in a cycle beginning with a small dose , increasing it to a peak, then tapering off slowly reducing doses then re starting it.
Plateauing- Different types of anabolic Steroids are alternated or overlapped – the belief being it is ,to prevent tolerance of the body to any one of them.
Effects on Health- short term and long term
Males- sperm count reduces, testes shrink in size, erection is affected, seminomas of testes/testicular cancer, baldness, enlarged breasts, increased tester one levels
Heart- heart attack, hypertension, thrombus formation, arterial damage.
Liver- hemorrhagic cysts-peliosis, hepatitis
Bones- bone growth stops if taken in adolescence, tendon injury happens as tendons become stiff.
Skin- rashes, acne , cysts, abscesses, jaundice
Infections- because of shared needles- HIV, Hepatitis B, HCV etc.
Mental health- agression, rage with violence, mania, delusiions, suicidal thoughts, depression in withdrawals.
Males with a disorder called muscular dysmorphia – ie however, muscular they ae they feel their muscles are small or shrunk usually take steroids .
The use of steroids is usually concurrent with drug usage especially cocaine, MDMA etc.
Treatment
The requirement is residential therapy – where the steroids is completely stopped, the resulting physical and mental damage is treated through medication and Counseling. Various meditation techniques will help to calm the manic and rage states of mind with the restlessness. The ambience has to be calm, conducive, patient, accepting and loving.