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  | Publications > Informational Brochures > Steroid Abuse > A Guide For Understanding The Dangers Of   Anabolic SteroidsSteroid Abuse by Law Enforcement PersonnelA Guide For Understanding The Dangers Of   Anabolic Steroids
**March 2004**

Anabolic steroid abuse, once viewed as a problem strictly associated   with body builders, fitness "buffs," and professional athletes, has entered into   the law enforcement community. Law enforcement personnel have used steroids for   both physical and psychological reasons. The idea of enhanced physical strength   and endurance provides one with "the invincible mentality" when performing law   enforcement duties. The short-term adverse physical effects of anabolic steroid   abuse are fairly well known. However, the long-term adverse physical effects of   anabolic steroid abuse have not been studied, and as such, are not known. In   addition, this type of abuse may result in harmful side-effects as well as   serious injury and death. The abuser in most cases is unaware of these hidden   dangers.

This guide will help you to understand why anabolic steroids   are being abused, and how you can educate law enforcement personnel and others   about the dangers of these drugs. This guide will also discuss the dangerous   medical effects associated with steroid abuse. By working together we can   greatly reduce the abuse of anabolic steroids. It is important to recognize this   problem and educate our co-workers in the law enforcement community.
What are anabolic   steroids? 
Anabolic steroids are synthetically produced variants of the   naturally occurring male hormone testosterone. Both males and females have   testosterone produced in their bodies: males in the testes, and females in the   ovaries and other tissues. The full name for this class of drugs is **androgenic**(promoting masculine characteristics) **anabolic** (tissue   building) **steroids** (the class of drugs). Some of the most abused steroids   include Deca-Durabolin® , Durabolin ® , Equipoise® , and Winstrol® . The common   street (slang) names for anabolic steroids include arnolds, gym candy, pumpers,   roids, stackers, weight trainers, and juice.

The two major effects of testosterone are an androgenic   effect and an anabolic effect. The term androgenic refers to the physical   changes experienced by a male during puberty, in the course of development to   manhood. Androgenic effects would be similarly experienced in a female. This   property is responsible for the majority of the side effects of steroid use. The   term anabolic refers to promoting of anabolism, the actual building of tissues,   mainly muscle, accomplished by the promotion of protein synthesis.
Why are steroids   abused? 
Anabolic steroids are primarily used by bodybuilders,   athletes, and fitness "buffs" who claim steroids give them a competitive   advantage and/or improve their physical performance. Also, individuals in   occupations requiring enhanced physical strength (body guards, construction   workers, and law enforcement officers) are known to take these drugs. Steroids   are purported to increase lean body mass, strength and aggressiveness. Steroids   are also believed to reduce recovery time between workouts, which makes it   possible to train harder and thereby further improve strength and endurance. As   a result of these claims, others, including law enforcement personnel, have used   steroids for personal and professional reasons.

The law enforcement profession is both mentally and   physically challenging. As a result, law enforcement personnel seek remedies and   solutions to perform their daily tasks more effectively. Anabolic steroids are a   drug of choice because they are known for increasing the size and strength of   muscles more quickly and easily, and increasing one’s endurance while performing   physical activities. Some law enforcement personnel may believe that steroids   provide them a physical and psychological advantage while performing their   jobs.
Where do you get   steroids? 
Doctors may prescribe steroids to patients for legitimate   medical purposes such as loss of function of testicles, breast cancer, low red   blood cell count, delayed puberty and debilitated states resulting from surgery   or sickness. Veterinarians administer steroids to animals (e.g. cats, cattle,   dogs, and horses) for legitimate purposes such as to promote feed efficiency,   and to improve weight gain, vigor, and hair coat. They are also used in   veterinary practice to treat anemia and counteract tissue breakdown during   illness and trauma. For purposes of illegal use there are several sources; the   most common illegal source is from smuggling steroids into the United States   from other countries such as Mexico and European countries. Smuggling from these   areas is easier because a prescription is not required for the purchase of   steroids. Less often steroids found in the illicit market are diverted from   legitimate sources (e.g. thefts or inappropriate prescribing) or produced in   clandestine laboratories.
How are steroids   taken? 
Anabolic steroids dispensed for legitimate medical purposes   are administered several ways including intramuscular or subcutaneous injection,   by mouth, pellet implantation under the skin and by application to the skin   (e.g. gels or patches). These same routes are used for purposes of abusing   steroids, with injection and oral administration being the most common. People   abusing steroids may take anywhere from 1 to upwards of a 100 times normal   therapeutic doses of anabolic steroids. This often includes taking two or more   steroids concurrently, a practice called "stacking." Abusers will often   alternate periods (6 to 16 weeks in length) of high dose use of steroids with   periods of low dose use or no drug at all. This practice is called "cycling."   The length of time that steroids stay in the body varies from a couple of days   to more than 12 months.
Physical &   psychological dangers
There is increasing concern regarding possible serious   health problems that are associated with the abuse of steroids, including both   short-term and long-term side effects. The short-term adverse physical effects   of anabolic steroid abuse are fairly well known. Short-term side effects may   include sexual and reproductive disorders, fluid retention, and severe acne. The   short-term side effects in men are reversible with discontinuation of steroid   use. Masculinizing effects seen in women, such as deepening of the voice, body   and facial hair growth, enlarged clitoris, and baldness are not reversible. The   long-term adverse physical effects of anabolic steroid abuse in men and in   women, other than masculinizing effects, have not been studied, and as such, are   not known. However, it is speculated that possible long-term effects may include   adverse cardiovascular effects such as heart damage and stroke.

**Possible physical   side effects include the following:**
- High blood cholesterol levels - high blood cholesterol   levels may lead to cardiovascular problems 
- Severe acne 
- Thinning of hair and baldness 
- Fluid retention 
- High blood pressure 
- Liver disorders (liver damage and jaundice) 
- Steroids can affect fetal development during   pregnancy 
- Risk of contracting HIV and other blood-borne diseases from   sharing infected needles 
- Sexual & reproductive disorders: 
MalesFemales- Atrophy (wasting away of tissues or  organs) of the   testicles  
- Loss of sexual drive 
- Diminished or decreased sperm  production  
- Breast and prostate enlargement  
- Decreased hormone levels  
- Sterility 
- Menstrual irregularities 
- Infertility 
- Masculinizing effects such as facial  hair, diminished   breast size,  permanently deepened voice, and  enlargement of the clitoris. 

**Possible   psychological disturbances include the following:**
- Mood swings (including manic-like symptoms leading to   violence) 
- Impaired judgment (stemming from feelings of   invincibility) 
- Depression 
- Nervousness 
- Extreme irritability 
- Delusions 
- Hostility and aggression 
Laws and penalties   for anabolic steroid abuse
The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 placed anabolic   steroids into Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) as of February   27, 1991. Under this legislation, anabolic steroids are defined as any drug or   hormonal substance chemically and pharmacologically related to testosterone   (other than estrogens, progestins, and corticosteroids) that promotes muscle   growth.

The possession or sale of anabolic steroids without a valid   prescription is illegal. Simple possession of illicitly obtained anabolic   steroids carries a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a minimum $1,000   fine if this is an individual’s first drug offense. The maximum penalty for   trafficking is five years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if this is the   individual’s first felony drug offense. If this is the second felony drug   offense, the maximum period of imprisonment and the maximum fine both double.   While the above listed penalties are for federal offenses, individual states   have also implemented fines and penalties for illegal use of anabolic   steroids.
Steroid   alternatives
A variety of non-steroid drugs are commonly found within the   illicit anabolic steroid market. These substances are primarily used for one or   more of the following reasons: 1) to serve as an alternative to anabolic   steroids; 2) to alleviate short-term adverse effects associated with anabolic   steroid use; or 3) to mask anabolic steroid use. Examples of drugs serving as   alternatives to anabolic steroids include clenbuterol, human growth hormone,   insulin, insulin-like growth factor, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Examples   of drugs used to treat the short-term adverse effects of anabolic steroid abuse   are erythropoietin, human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG), and tamoxifen. Also,   diuretics and uricosuric agents may be used to mask steroid use.

Over the last few years, a number of metabolic precursors to   either testosterone or nandrolone have been marketed as dietary supplements in   the U.S. These dietary supplements can be purchased in health food stores   without a prescription. Some of these substances include androstenedione,   androstenediol, norandrostenedione, norandrostenediol, and   dehydroepiandtrosterone (DHEA), which can be converted into testosterone or a   similar compound in the body. Whether they promote muscle growth is not   known.
Are anabolic   steroids addictive? 
An undetermined percentage of steroid abusers may become   addicted to the drug, as evidenced by their continuing to take steroids in spite   of physical problems, negative effects on social relations, or nervousness and   irritability. Steroid users can experience withdrawal symptoms such as mood   swings, fatigue, restlessness, and depression. Untreated, some depressive   symptoms associated with anabolic steroid withdrawal have been known to persist   for a year or more after the abuser stops taking the drugs.
Steroid abuse   within the law enforcement community
Despite the illegality of taking steroids without a   prescription and the known dangers of steroid abuse the problem continues to   grow in the law enforcement community. In Minneapolis, a police sergeant was   charged for possession of steroids. He admitted to being a user of steroids. In   Miami, a police officer was arrested for the purchasing human growth hormone   kits (HGH) from a dealer. The dealer had also informed Federal officials that   the police officer had purchased anabolic steroids from him on four other   occasions. In Tampa, a police officer was sentenced to 70 months in jail for   exchanging 1,000 ecstasy tablets from police custody for steroids.
How can we curtail   their abuse? 
The most important aspect to curtailing abuse is education   concerning dangerous and harmful side effects, and symptoms of abuse. Law   enforcement officers must understand they can perform their jobs and have a   great body without steroids. They should focus on getting proper diet, rest, and   good overall mental and physical health. These things are all factors in how the   body is shaped and conditioned. For additional information on steroids please   see our website at www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov

**Presented as a public service   by:                  Drug Enforcement Administration                  Office of Diversion   Control                  Washington, D.C. 20537**                 |
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