www.dea.gov

U.S. Department of Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration

Office of Diversion Control

US Department of

. .

Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration .

Laws and penalties for anabolic

steroid abuse (cont’d)

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. The period of

imprisonment and the amount of fine are enhanced

if the offense involves the distribution of an anabolic

steroid and a masking agent or if the distribution is

to an athlete. In addition, enhanced penalties exist

for any athletic coach who uses his/her position to

influence an athlete to use an anabolic steroid. While

the above listed penalties are for federal offenses,

individual states have also implemented fines and

penalties for illegal use of anabolic steroids.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC), National

Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), and many

professional sports leagues (e.g. Major League

Baseball, National Basketball Association, National

Football League , and National Hockey League) have

banned the use of steroids by athletes, both because

of their potential dangerous side effects and they

give the user an unfair advantage. The IOC and

professional sports leagues use urine testing to detect

steroid use both in and out of competition.

What can you do to help a friend

who is abusing steroids?

The most important aspect to curtailing abuse

is education concerning dangerous and harmful

side effects and symptoms of abuse. Athletes

and others must understand they can excel in

sports and have a great body without steroids.

They should focus on a proper diet, rest, and

good overall mental and physical health. These

are all factors in how the body is shaped and

conditioned. Millions of people have excelled in sports

and look great without steroids. For additional

information on steroids please see our website at

www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov

SPECIAL 

AGENT

DRUG ENFORCEMENT ADMINISTRAT OI N

DEPARTMENT JUSTICE

OF

For more information:

Please contact your nearest

DEA office

Or

Visit one of our Internet Websites:

www.DEAdiversion.usdoj.gov

Or

www.dea.gov

March 2008

Office of Diversion Control

US Department of

. .

Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration .

Presented as a public service by:

Department of Justice

Drug Enforcement Administration

Office of Diversion Control

Washington, D.C. 20537
ANABOLIC STEROIDS

What are anabolic steroids?

Anabolic steroids are synthetic substances

produced in a laboratory, whose chemical

structure is similar to that of the male hormone

testosterone. The synthetic hormones promote

the storage of protein and the growth of

muscle tissue. 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

common street (slang) names for anabolic

steroids include arnolds, gym candy, pumpers,

roids, stackers, weight trainers, and juice.

Why do young people misuse steroids?

Anabolic steroids are primarily used by

bodybuilders, athletes, and fitness “buffs”

who claim steroids give them a competitive

advantage or improve their physical

performance. Steroids are purported to increase

lean body mass, strength and aggressiveness.

As a result, young people take steroids to

increase their muscle size and strength and to

reduce body fat which they believe improves

personal appearance. For some young people

appearance is the key to life.

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 or 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. The most common source of illegal steroids

in the United states are smuggled products from

foreign countries. 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

injection into the muscles or under the skin, 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. The length of time that steroids

or their metabolites stay in the body varies from a

couple of days to more than 12 months.

Physical & Psychological dangers

Steroid users are vulnerable to physical and

psychological side effects, many of which are

irreversible in women. 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 are not

known.

Laws and penalties for anabolic

steroid abuse

Anabolic steroids as a class of drugs were

placed in Schedule III of the Controlled

Substances Act (CSA) as of February 27, 1991.

The possession or sale of anabolic steroids

without a valid prescription is illegal. Simple

possession of illicitly obtained anabolic steroids

carries a maximum penalty up to one year in

prison and a minimum fine of $1,000 if this is

For Guys For Girls

• Baldness • Growth of facial and body hair

• Development of breasts • Deepened voice

• Painful erections • Breast reduction

• Shrinkage of testicles • Enlarged clitoris

• Loss of function of testicles • Menstrual irregularities

For Both

• Acne • Increase in bad cholesterol levels

• Jaundice (yellowing of the skin) • Decrease in good cholesterol levels

• Swelling – Fluid retention • Mood swings

• Stunted growth (close the growth • Increase in feelings of hostility

plates in the long bones and per- • Increase in aggressive behavior

manently stunt their growth)

Side Effects