Are Steroids Addictive?

What are Steroids?

Steroids are synthetic substances that mimic these hormones produced naturally in the body. 

Types of Steroids

There are two main types of steroids: anabolic-androgenic and cortico steroids.

Cortico steroids mimic cortisol hormones made by the adrenal glands (small glands above the kidneys). They regulate our immune system and the balance of salt and water in our bodies. They also help reduce inflammation and can be used as part of your treatment to help destroy cancer cells. They can also be used to help reduce an allergic reaction to certain chemotherapy drugs.

Anabolic and androgenic steroids are synthetically produced variants of the naturally occurring male hormone testosterone and promote the development of male sexual characteristics, such as the deepening of the voice. They help in the synthesis of proteins and also control the way we use fats, proteins and carbohydrates, thereby helping muscle growth. They are prescribed to treat conditions such as delayed puberty, impotence, and body-wasting in patients suffering from AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome).

Steroid Addiction

Anabolic steroids are abused, often by athletes, to enhance performance and to build strong muscles. The fierce competition prevalent in sports tempts sportsmen to experiment with anabolic steroids. Once they perceive it as improving their physique or heighten their athletic abilities, they are unwilling to give up steroids.

Most healthy males produce less than 10 milligrams of testosterone a day. Females also produce testosterone but in minute amounts. With continued use of anabolic steroids, athletes find they need to use higher dosage just to “maintain” the same effect. They may use up to hundreds of milligrams a day, far exceeding the normally prescribed daily dose for legitimate medical purposes. This marks the beginnings of addiction.

While the body grows dependent upon steroids with regular use, they do not create the same type of high or low that substance abusers chase. However, all drugs have a profound impact upon the neurotransmitters thereby setting up mood chances and behavioral changes. Scientific research shows that aggression and other psychiatric side effects may result from anabolic steroid addiction and steroid abuse.

Other signs of addiction include cravings for the drug, and withdrawal symptoms, should the drug be stopped.

Side Effects of Steroid Use

A build-up of steroids upsets the body’s internal balance. An unexpected side effect is that steroid use can weaken the tendons, placing athletes at risk of serious injury.

Effects on the Central Nervous System

Steroids affect the hypothalamus, which regulates many basic body functions by regulating hormones. Steroids affect the functioning of the limbic system, which is why the (ab)users become aggressive and erratic.

Prolonged steroid use affects mood and emotional functioning and cause anxiety, exhilaration, agitation, and depression.

Damage to Vital Organs

Excessive and prolonged use of steroids can lead to the enlargement of the heart, atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries, elevated cholesterol levels, heart palpitations, heart attack, high blood pressure, and stroke.

Liver and kidney are also likely to be impaired by reckless steroid usage.

Alcohol increases risk of side effects:

When anabolic steroids are injected into the blood they are broken down by the enzymes in the liver and get subsequently eliminated.

Many people mix oral anabolic steroids with alcohol. Alcohol competes with the steroids for using the same enzymes, and the steroids have to linger longer in the body and worsen some of the bad side effects. Metabolizing oral steroids is equivalent to metabolizing six packs of light beer.

Alcohol reduces protein synthesis making steroid-use counter-productive.

Alcohol also breaks down solids, compounds and tissues in the body which could easily transform the testosterone molecule of the anabolic steroids into estrogen. The estrogen increases unwanted side effects of steroid use. Some of these feared side-effects include gynomastia (increased breast size in men), violent mood swings, and shrunken testicles among others.

Withdrawal Issues

When you withdraw from the steroids after prolonged use, you may experience mood swings, depression with suicidal and aggressive behavior. Quitting steroids may cause dramatic reductions in size and strength and  contribute to depression. People who use steroids also appear to be at higher risk for using other drugs, such as alcohol or cocaine.

Read Also

http://healthmad.com/health/use-abuse-and-side-effects-of-steroids/

http://healthmad.com/medicine/side-effects-of-steroids/