Drug abuse anabolic steroids

U. S. National Institutes of Health. National Institute on Drug Abuse. Anabolic Steroid Abuse Research Report. Washington, DC U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, April 2000. 

You have surely come across the items of news that appear quite frequently in the media, related to world-class athletes and sports personalities abusing anabolic steroids, e.g. nandrolone, to enhance performance and also to improve physical appearance. What are these substances Well, all these drugs and many other important drugs belong to the class of compounds called steroids. 

Foltin, R. W., The importance of drug self-administration studies in the analysis of abuse liability An analysis of caffeine, nicotine, anabolic steroids, and designer drugs. Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Psychiatrists in Alcoholism and Addictions (1990, Santa Monica, California). American Journal on Addictions Spr Vol 1(2), 139-149, 1992. 

Schedule III—The drug or other substance has (1) a potential for abuse less than the drugs or other substances in Schedules I and II, (2) a currently accepted medical use in treatment in the United States, and (3) abuse of the drug or other substance may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. Examples ketamine, anabolic steroids, some barbiturates. 

Athletic performance Although the anabolic steroids are generally the agents that are abused for enhancement of athletic performance, these agents have also been used for such purposes. However, these drugs are not safe and effective for this use and have a potential risk of serious side effects. 

Schedule III Substances with less potential for abuse than drugs in Schedule I or II for example, methyl-phenidate, amphetamine, secobarbital, and anabolic steroids. 

Antidrug Abuse Act (1988) - This and similar state laws established criminal penalites for the distribution or possession of anabolic-androgen steroids except for the treatment of disease. Violators are subject to the penalities imposed by the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970 (see below). 

Similar to special material handling is the issue of controlled substance security. If it is decided to allow for this type of material handling, special considerations need to be made for legal issues involved. Security areas must be built into the design if these special classes of materials are to be handled. In 1970, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Title II of the Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act, was enacted into law. This law deals with the regulation of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, and anabolic steroids. All of these corn-... 

Schedule 3 involves drugs with a significant abuse potential, but lower than for Schedules 1 and 2. Such drugs may lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high psychological dependence. Examples include many stimulants such as amphetamines and methamphetamines as well as various barbiturates. Anabolic steroids (used by athletes and bodybuilders) are also included because of their serious health risks. 

A partial empty sella syndrome occurred in an elite 39-year-old body-builder with a 17-year history of drug abuse involving growth hormone, anabolic steroids, testosterone, and thyroid hormone (82). 

Athletes engaging in androgen abuse usually obtain these drugs from various illicit but readily available sources.155 Some examples of anabolic steroids that are used by athletes are listed in Table 30-2. These agents include testosterone, synthetic analogs of testosterone, and precursors that are converted to ana-... 

Therapists may also play an important role in educating patients about the dangers of androgen abuse. When dealing with an athletic population, physical therapists may serve as a source of information about anabolic steroids. Therapists should advise athletes about the potential side effects, such as liver, cardiovascular, and reproductive abnormalities. Therapists can also monitor blood pressure in athletes who appear to be using androgenic steroids. This interaction may help prevent a hypertensive crisis, as well as illustrate to the athlete the harmful effects of these drugs. 

Anabolic steroids, antidepressants and drugs of abuse affect libido, potency, and ejaculatory function. Anabolic steroids are derivatives of testosterone, and have strong genitotropic effects. There is published evidence indicating that anabolic steroids increases sexual desire however, the frequency of erectile dysfunction is also increased. Treatment with the antidepressant fluoxetine has been associated with sexual side effects including delayed or nonexistent ejaculation and hyposexuality. Mice treated in utero with the anideukemic agent 5-aza-2/-deoxycytidine exhibit abnormal reproductive behavior and low reproductive capacity. 

Anabolic steroids are typically abused in a cyclic fashion, with a cycle of 4-18 weeks on steroids and 1 month to 1 year off. Abuse of other psychoactive drugs may occur in up to a third of these patients, but this is low compared with other substance abusers because of concerns about health and appearance by steroid abusers. The primary effects sought by abusers are increased muscle mass and strength, not euphoria. In the context of an adequate diet and sufficient physical activity, a significant increase in muscle mass and strength can be produced by these steroids. 

In addition to narcotics and marijuana, the nonmedical use of anabolic steroids became increasingly popular during the 1980s. This was particularly true for athletes seeking to increase skeletal muscle mass and performance, as discussed previously. The Omnibus Anti-Substance Abuse Act of 1988 made the unlawful distribution of anabolic steroids across state lines a felony under federal law, punishable by 1 to 3 years in prison and a fine of up to 250,000. State laws governing the possession and distribution of anabolic drugs vary, but a conviction in most states carries a stiff fine and imprisonment. 

The Comprehensive Drug Abuse Prevention and Control Act of 1970, most commonly known by theTitle II section called the Controlled Substances Act, is enforced by the U.S. Department of Justice. This consolidation of laws regulates the manufacture and distribution of narcotics, stimulants, depressants, hallucinogens, anabolic steroids, and chemicals used in the illicit production of controlled... 

Fact sheets on anabolic steroids can be ordered free, by calling NIDA (National Institute of Drug Abuse) Infofax at 1-888-NIH-NIDA (1-888-644-6432). 

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