The Threat of AIDS People sometimes take injections of anabolic steroids to augment oral dosages, using large-gauge, reusable needles normally obtained through the black market. The Psychological Effects Scientists are just beginning to investigate the impact of anabolic steroids on the mind and behavior. The Harvard study also noted that anabolic steroids users may suffer from paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability, delusions, and impaired judgment stemming from feelings of invincibility. Evidence that megadoses of anabolic steroids can affect the brain and produce mental changes in users poses serious questions about possible addiction to the drugs. Pennsylvania State University researchers studied a group of high school seniors who had developed a psychological, if not physical, dependence on anabolic steroids.
Adolescent users exhibit a prime trait of addicts-denial.
They tend to overlook or simply ignore the physical dangers and moral implications of taking illegal substances. Certain delusional behavior that is characteristic of addiction can occur. Until recently most underground steroids were legitimately manufactured pharmaceuticals that were diverted to the black market through theft and fraudulent prescriptions. More effective law enforcement coupled with greater demand forced black marketers to seek new sources. Now black-market anabolic steroids are either made overseas and smuggled into the United States or are produced in clandestine laboratories in this country.