United States Drug Enforcement Administration

Anabolic steroids are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone that are abused in an attempt to promote muscle growth, enhance athletic or other physical performance, and improve physical appearance.

Testosterone, trenbolone, oxymetholone, methandrostenolone, nandrolone, stanozolol, boldenone, and oxandrolone are some of the anabolic steroids that are most commonly encountered by United States law enforcement.

Arnolds, Gear, Gym Candy, Juice, Pumpers, Roids, Stackers, Weight Gainers

Steroids are ingested orally, injected intramuscularly, or applied to the skin. The doses abused are often 10 to 100 times higher than the approved therapeutic and medical treatment dosages. Users typically take two or more anabolic steroids at the same time in a cyclic manner, believing that this will improve their effectiveness and minimize the adverse effects.

A wide range of adverse effects is associated with the use or abuse of anabolic steroids. These effects depend on several factors including: Age, sex, the anabolic steroid used, amount used, and duration of use In adolescents, anabolic steroid use can stunt the ultimate height that an individual might otherwise achieve. In adolescent girls and women, anabolic steroid use can induce permanent physical changes, such as deepening of the voice, increased facial and body hair growth, menstrual irregularities, male pattern baldness, and lengthening of the clitoris. In men, anabolic steroid use can cause shrinkage of the testicles, reduced sperm count, enlargement of the male breast tissue, sterility, and an increased risk of prostate cancer. In both men and women, anabolic steroid use can cause high cholesterol levels, which may increase the risk of coronary artery disease, strokes, and heart attacks. Anabolic steroid use can also cause acne and fluid retention. Oral preparations of anabolic steroids, in particular, can damage the liver. Users may also develop endocarditis, a bacterial infection that causes a potentially fatal inflammation of the heart lining.

Anabolic steroids are not associated with overdoses. The adverse effects a user would experience develop from the use of steroids over time.