Steroids

Steroid abuse has been associated with cardiovascular disease, including heart attack and stroke. These heart problems can even happen to athletes under the age of 30.

In both sexes, steroids can cause male-pattern baldness, cysts, acne, and oily hair and skin. Steroids can make you angry and hostile for no reason. There are recorded cases of murder attributed to intense anger from steroid use.

Street names/slang terms:
Juice, rhoids, Arnolds, Gym Candy, Pumpers, Stackers, Weight Trainers

Drug Type:
Anabolic steroids are a group of powerful compounds closely related to the male sex hormone testosterone.

What does it look like?
Steroids come in tablets or liquid form.

How is it used?
Anabolic steroids are taken orally or injected, and athletes and other abusers take them typically in cycles of weeks or months, rather than continuously, in patterns called cycling.

Short-term Effects:
• liver tumors
• jaundice
• fluid retention
• high blood pressure
• shrinking of testicles, reduced sperm count, infertility, baldness, development of breasts (in men)
• growth of facial hair, changes in or cessation of menstrual cycle, deepened voice (in women)
• paranoid jealousy, delusions
• impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility
• depression, mood swings, extreme irritability
• acne

Long-term Effects:
• liver cancer
• Cushing’s syndrome
• muscle wasting
• osteoporosis
• cataracts, glaucoma

Source: Partnership for a Drug-Free America, NIDA