Steroid Addiction and Intervention - Addiction Intervention Resources, Inc.

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Steroid Addiction Questions

What are steroids?
There are 3 types of naturally occurring steroids in the body:

Corticosteroids (cortisone)
Female sex hormones (estrogen and progesterone)
steroids (testosterone)

The performance enhancing steroids are synthetic testosterone and are sometimes referred to as "anabolic" or "androgenic" steroids. They are in fact both "anabolic" (refers to the muscle building qualities) and "androgenic" (refers to the qualities that generate male sexual characteristics). Typically when people talk about steroids, they are referring to these synthetic, performance enhancing drugs.

Why were synthetic steroids developed?
Originally developed in the 1930's for males who had problems producing enough testosterone and later used to increase body mass of concentration camp survivors after World War II. Athletes started experimenting with steroids in the late 1940's to build muscle, with the most visible example being the Russian weight lifting team's performance at the 1952 Olympics and throughout the 1950's and early 1960's.

Steroids have some valid medical uses, such as, in treating impotence, breast cancer and osteoporosis. In addition, Corticosteroids have medical applications as anti-inflammatory medicines and to treat asthma. Estrogen and progesterone are used in oral contraceptive pills.

How are steroids used?
Steroids come in three basic forms; pill, injectable liquid and topical cream. Steroids are typically taken in "cycles", using for several weeks, tapering down, stopping for several weeks and starting the process over again. This practice started so athletes could time their use in order to be in the "stopped" stage of the cycle prior to their athletic event and thus avoid detection. Usually steroids are taken in "stacks". Stacking refers to the practice of using several types of steroids together and can include other drugs such as anti-inflammatory, stimulants, opiates and other hormones (such as human growth hormone) or supplements.

Steroids and addiction?
More and more people are realizing that steroid can be addictive. On the DSMV - IV Diagnostic Criteria for Substance Dependence, steroids score 5 out of 7; (2) Withdrawal, (3) Loss of control (amount & time), (5) Preoccupation, (6) Adverse consequences (social) and (7) Adverse consequences (health). The remaining 2 are borderline; (1) Tolerance and (4) Loss of control (control or quit). In addition, pain, discomfort and insomnia are associated with steroid use. This can cause the user to seek to self-medicate. Many times the person supplying the steroids also can provide opiates as well.

How do steroids work?
Steroids replicate the growth (anabolic) and masculine (androgenic) qualities of natural testosterone. In the body natural testosterone has a half life of 10 minutes and therefore it is not very effective in a body building application. Steroids however, were developed to last much longer, there by allowing the user to train for longer periods of time and to recover more quickly. A more scientific explanation would be:

Steroids enter the muscle cells via the blood stream or by being injected directly into the muscle and bind to the DNA in the nucleus of the cell
The DNA turns on genes responsible for protein production, which signals enzymes to produce myosin and actin proteins.
The myosin and actin proteins link up to form new filaments and increase the size of the muscle cells.

What are the health risks associated with steroids?

Heart disease

High blood pressure

Lower good cholesterol

Strokes & blood clots

Cancer (liver & kidney)

Infection (HIV & hepatitis)

Psychiatric effects (rage, mania & delusions)

Depression Aggressive behavior

Tendon rupture

Shortened stature

Acne

Male-pattern baldness

Aching joints

Nausea

Bad breath

Urinary & bowel problems

Fluid retention

Jaundice

Trembling

Men may also experience:

Prostate cancer

Breast development

Shrinking of the testicles

Reduced sperm count

Infertility

Women may also experience:

Excessive growth of body & facial hair

Enlargement of the clitoris

Eating disorder

Deepened voice

Breast shrinkage

Infertility

Changes in or cessation of the menstrual cycle

What is the AIR Steroid Intervention Program?
AIR's Steroid Intervention Program is designed to meet the need for assessment and treatment of individuals who use steroids and other performance enhancing drugs, as well as those who may be struggling with an addiction to alcohol and drugs. Our approach to the families, friends and organizations that turn to AIR for help, is the same as our time tested intervention solutions. The AIR model meets the problem head on and motivates the affected individual to accept help, facilitates access to the appropriate level of treatment, prepares for post treatment continuing care and designs strategies to assist with their recovery. Every step of the way AIR's solution is tailored to the individual … there are no "cookie cutter" or "one size fits all" solutions.

Glossary

Darts = Points Needles
Blending = Mixing different drugs
Ergogenic drugs = Performance enhancing substances
Joy Rider = User of steroids for appearance only
Megadosing = Taking massive amounts of steroids, by injection or pill
Plateauing = When a drug becomes ineffective at a certain level
Roidal = User of steroids
Roids, Sauce, Juice, Pumpers, Gym Candy, Arnolds = Anabolic steroids
Roid rage = Uncontrolled outbursts of anger or combativeness as a result of using steroids

Names and types of common anabolic steroids

Street Term

Definition

Abolic

Veterinary steroids

Anadrol Oral steroids

Anatrofin Injectable steroids

Anavar Oral steroids

Bolasterone Injectable steroids

Deca-Duabolin Injectable steroids

Delatestryl Injectable steroids

Dep-testosterone Injectable steroids

Dianabol Veterinary steroids and oral

Dihydrolone Injectable steroids

Durabolin Injectable steroids

Dymethzine Injectable steroids

Enoltestovis Injectable steroids

Finajet/finaject Veterinary steroids

Georgia home boy Gamma hydroxybutyrate (GHB)

GHB Gamma hydroxybutyrate

Maxibolin
Oral steroids

Methatriol Injectable steroids

Methyltestosterone Oral steroids

Parabolin Oral steroids; veterinary steroid

Primbolin Injectable and oral steroids

Primobolan Injectable and oral steroid

Proviron Oral steroids

Quinolone Injectable steroids

Sustanon 250 Injectable steroids

Therobolin Injectable steroids

Trophobolene Injectable steroid

Winstrol Oral steroids

Winstrol V Veterinary steroids