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familiar name for synthetic substances related to the They promote the growth of skeletal muscle (anabolic effects) and the development of male sexual characteristics (androgenic effects), and also have some other effects. The term "anabolic out this report because of its familiarity, although the proper term for these compounds is "anabolic-androgenic" steroids. to treat hypogonadism, a condi- tion in which the testes do not produce sufficient testosterone for normal growth, development, and sexual functioning. The primary medical uses of these to build muscle and boost their athletic performance. Increasingly, other segments of the population also have been taking these com- pounds. The Monitoring the Future study, which is an annual survey of drug abuse among adolescents across the country, showed a signifi- cant increase from 1998 to 1999 in steroid abuse among middle school students. During the same year, the percentage of 12th-graders who believed that taking these drugs causes "great risk" to health, de- clined from 68 percent to 62 percent. heavy toll on a person's health. The abuse of oral or injectable steroids is associated with higher risks for heart attacks and strokes, and the abuse of most oral steroids is associ- ated with increased risk for liver problems. Steroid abusers who share needles or use nonsterile techniques when they inject steroids are at risk for contracting dangerous infec- tions, such as HIV/AIDS, hepatitis B and C, and bacterial endocarditis. These include breast development and genital shrinking in men, masculinization of the body in women, and acne and hair loss in both sexes. Report, which is one of a series of reports on drugs of abuse. NIDA produces this series to increase understanding of drug abuse and addiction and the health effects associated with taking drugs. We hope that this compilation of scientific information on anabolic steroids will help the public recog- nize the risks of steroid abuse. National Institute on Drug Abuse |
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