How dangerous is steroid addiction?

Some individuals take these drugs at levels that are up to one hundred times higher than the medically approved dose, which as you can imagine produces many adverse side effects. Synthetically (and illegally) created anabolic steroids resemble the male sex hormone testosterone. If you experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking corticosteroids or you lower your dose, we can help.

• Or if you miss a training session, you feel incredibly guilty, anxious or self-critical.
• Continued regular use of steroids, as with many other prescription medications and other drugs, can lead to a dependency, at which stage you may be unable to function without the substance.
• We will tailor medication and nutritional supplements to suit your individual needs.
• It is also commonly prescribed if you experience loss of muscle mass due to cancer, HIV, AIDS and other health issues.
• Athletes, weightlifters, and bodybuilders have all been known to use steroids to improve their body shape as well as to (illegally) enhance their performance levels.
• “Whether people initially use steroids to ‘bulk up’ or to improve the shape of their bodies,” says Wood, “once they start using they’re down the rabbit hole and it can easily spiral into addiction.

Externally, Jack appeared to be in tip-top physical condition, but on the inside he was falling apart. He would lose his breath climbing the stairs, his blood pressure was ‘through the roof’ and he would cry at the drop of a hat. This is a Class C drug, which can only be sold by pharmacists with a prescription. If you’re caught driving under the influence, you may receive a heavy fine, driving ban, or prison sentence.

The effects of steroid addiction

In whatever way you have noticed steroid abuse, it is important to tackle the subject sooner rather than later. Steroid abuse can have many harmful consequences as you can see from the side effects listed above, so it is important to deal with the situation as soon as possible. Steroid addiction has increased tenfold over the last decade and specialists say the UK is ‘sleepwalking into a health crisis’. There is no single answer for this, as it varies depending on your personal circumstances and your addiction.

• Ordinarily, a healthy left ventricle is supposed to pump anywhere between 55% and 70% of blood out of the heart.
• People abuse anabolic steroids to increase muscle mass, improve athletic performance, and improve their physical appearance.
• Once you have successfully detoxed from steroids, you may undergo addiction therapy.
• Anabolic steroids are prescription-only drugs that are often taken illegally.

Only by recognising how you arrived at this point can you begin to positively shape your future. Since time immemorial, people have sought completive advantages in whatever pursuit occupies their imagination. From Ancient Greeks conceiving a crossbow to aid their hunting efforts, through to millennials defining new apps to streamline life, humans seek the next great advancement with consistent reliability.

Anabolic Steroid Abuse and Addiction

The National Institute of Drug Abuse states that around 32% of anabolic steroid users develop a dependency to the drug. Steroid dependency is known as steroid use disorder, with increased tolerance and lack of control over taking the substance being key symptoms. So whilst steroid use has become increasingly normalised, are users even aware of the long-term risks? Wood tells me that he expects the NHS to be inundated with liver failures and heart conditions in several years’ time, when the effects of performance-enhancing drugs finally catch up with the users.

If you would like to access help in your path to recovery, our treatment centre is open for you. Some people believe that combining several supplements can increase their effectiveness although there isn’t much scientific research to prove that for now. And lastly, one can suffer from a condition known as endocarditis which might arise as infections due to improper injections.

This means that supplying someone else, even your friends, can get you up to 14 years in prison, an unlimited fine or both. Anabolic steroids are class C drugs that can only be taken with a prescription. They’re typically abused by athletes, body order steroids online builders and weightlifters who want to enhance performance, appear stronger and ‘bulk up’. However, there is a growing trend of young people who struggle with body dysmorphia taking steroids to escape negative feelings about their own physique.

The epidemic is one which isn’t shrinking; but, over time, there are new programmes that are put into place to educate those who are considering the use of illegal steroids. Anabolic steroids can be taken by mouth or injected into the muscle. Most men start with tablets but may progress to injections which are less likely to cause liver damage. Finding useful information and resources about addiction or alcoholism can be a minefield.

How do people take it?

It can push users away from their loved ones, and the restrictive diets and excessive time in gym settings only exacerbate the problem. ‘Pairing steroids with resistance exercise will boost your muscle size. Three symptoms of a steroid overdose are increased body temperature, trembling and convulsions.

The idea is that this wards off some of the side effects, which can include shrunken testicles, erectile dysfunction, gynaecomastia (swollen breast tissue) and hair loss, among others. The physical effects of anabolic steroids use differ in men and women due to the differing hormonal makeup. They are Class C drugs that effectively mimic the male sex hormone – testosterone and come in several different forms – pills, injectable liquids, gels and creams.

Men could experience shrinking testicles and a growth of breast tissue. Steroid abuse can also result in heart problems and fertility issues. Anabolic steroids are a manufactured drug that mimic the effects of the hormone, testosterone. Other people take testosterone itself if, for medical reasons, they need it to correct a deficiency.

However, the risks are not considered great as with many other prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) medicines. Most doctors who prescribe anabolic–androgenic steroids (AAS) acknowledge that taking steroids and drinking alcohol in moderation is okay and unlikely to cause any problems. Prolonged regular use of steroids can lead to mood swings, commonly referred to as ‘roid rage’.