HISTORY:
The used of steroids in athletics is generally attributed to the Soviet
weight lifting team in the early 1950's. Although steroid use among
athletes was common for quite some time, it was not until the 1988 Olympics
that the problem became so well known or publicized. This is when Ben
Johnson was stripped of his gold medal after testing positive for steroids.
INFORMATION:
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are man-made substances related to male sex
hormones. "Anabolic" refers to muscle-building, and "androgenic" refers to
increased masculine characteristics. "Steroids" refers to the class of
drugs. These drugs are available legally only by prescription, to treat
conditions that occur when the body produces abnormally low amounts of
testosterone, such as delayed puberty and some types of impotence. They are
also used to treat body wasting in patients with AIDS and other diseases
that result in loss of lean muscle mass. Abuse of anabolic steroids,
however, can lead to serious health problems, some irreversible.
Today, athletes and others abuse anabolic steroids to enhance performance
and also to improve physical appearance. Anabolic steroids are taken orally
or injected, typically in cycles of weeks or months (referred to as
"cycling"), rather than continuously. Cycling involves taking multiple doses
of steroids over a specific period of time, stopping for a period, and
starting again. In addition, users often combine several different types of
steroids to maximize their effectiveness while minimizing negative effects
(referred to as "stacking").
Physical side effects:
Cancer
Liver Damage
Feminizing effects in males (growth of breast tissue)
Male attributes in females (deepening of voice, excessive hair growth)
Enlarged clitoris
Shrunken testicles
Limb loss
Heart disease/heart attacks
Physical addiction
HIV/AIDS from the sharing of needles
Reduced sperm count
Impotence
Infertility
Baldness
Pain and difficulty urinating
Enlarged prostate
Baldness
Smaller Breast in women
Menstrual cycle stops
Adolescents experience premature closure of the growth plates (stunted
growth)
STREET NAMES:
Anabolic steroids, androgens, hormones, juice, roids, steroids,
vitamins and product.
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