An obsession with winning, and desire to be the fastest or strongest has been so great for some athletes, that anabolic-androgenic steroids are used to improve athletic performance. Synthetically produced testosterone, steroids help the body retain dietary protein, adding growth to muscles and bones. These effects of weight gain and muscle and bone growth are short lived and are accompanied by less desirable effects. When steroids injected, increased risk for HIV Risks of Birth Defects Tolerance and Dependence With long term use, dosage increases to maintain desired effects but will level off after a certain point. Psychological dependence is characterized by an unwilling- ness to stop the drug despite the negative consequences.
Cardiac muscle becomes flab and cholesterol levels rise.
Levels drop when steroids are stopped. Psychological dependence is characterized by an unwillingness to stop the drug despite neg. effects.