Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids

Roids
Anabolic Steroids
Sustanon 250
Stanozolol
Dianabol
Deca-Durabolin
Anavar
AAS
Steroids

Scientific Names: Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids (AAS)

Generic Names: Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids. I-PEDS (Image and performance Enhancing Drugs)

Names of different steroids: Testosterone Esters, Boldenone (aka Equipoise), Methandrostenolone (aka Dianabol), Fluoxymesterone (aka Halotestin), Drostanolone (aka Masteron), Methenolone (aka Primobolan), Stanozolol (aka Winstrol), Mesterolone (Proviron), Oxymetholone (aka Anapolan or Nap-50), Oxandrolone (aka Anavar), Nandrolone decanoate (aka Deca Durabolin or just ‘Deca’), Trenbolone.

An example of what Anabolic-Androgenic-Steroids looks like

You cannot always be sure that what you buy is what you get, but if you want to send any substance off for testing, you can send it to WEDINOS

What does it look like?

Tablets and injectable liquid in bottles or ampoules.

Effects of Anabolic-Androgenic-Steroids

Desired Effects:

Enhanced muscle mass & performance, greater physical definition.

Side Effects:

Male pattern baldness
Acne
Shrinking and hardening of the testicles
Development of breast tissue in men
In women, the development of male characteristics; enlarged clitoris, disruption to menstrual cycle, growth of facial hair, deepening of the voice.
Increased Libido
If used when pregnant risk of severe damage to foetus.

Harm Reduction

If injecting steroids, ensure that needles are clean and have not been used; get clean needles and safer injecting information from a needle exchange or drug agency.
Injectable steroids always are injected into the muscle; there is no anabolic steroid designed for intravenous use.
Before using steroids seek advice from a drugs worker. They can give you safer injecting advice and direct you to information about steroids.
Taking steroids orally will reduce the risks and problems with injecting. However, taking steroids orally can do more damage to your liver and may be more toxic to your kidneys.
Educate yourself as much as you can before ever using AAS. Public Health Wales have a website. https://www.ipedinfo.co.uk/

Risks

Long term risks:

Depression
Mania
Increased aggression.
Harmful changes in cholesterol
Acne
High blood pressure
Dangerous changes in the structure of the heart.
Liver damage is particularly associated with taking oral anabolic steroids.
If taken by young people, the use of anabolic steroids can interfere with normal growth. May cause psychological dependence.

Short term risks:

Localised infection from contaminated products or unsterile injecting processes. Sharing needles and other injecting equipment can spread HIV and hepatitis virus infections.

How does Anabolic-Androgenic-Steroids work?

Anabolic steroids stimulate muscle tissue to grow and "bulk up" in response to training by mimicking the effect of naturally produced testosterone on the body.

Tablets and injectable liquid in bottles or ampoules. Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids are synthetic derivatives of the primary male sex hormone testosterone. Anabolic refers to the primary, desirable, characteristics (e.g. muscle building, recovery) and androgenic refers to the secondary effects, that may or may not be desirable (growth of body hair, deepening of voice, increase in libido). AAS are one of a range of drugs used by body builders to build muscle, control weight and manage the side effects. These are known as Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs (IPEDS).

Legal status of Anabolic-Androgenic-Steroids

Class C, under the Misuse of Drugs Act - legal to possess, illegal to supply without a prescription.

How is Anabolic-Androgenic-Steroids taken?

Orally, intramuscular injection. Steroids should never be injected into a vein.

Paraphernalia

If injected, needles and syringes.

Medical uses of Anabolic-Androgenic-Steroids

They are used in the treatment of some aplastic anaemias. Anabolic steroids have been given for osteoporosis in women, but they are no longer advocated for this purpose.

Where Does it Come From?

Made in underground labs. Imported pharmaceutical products, diverted from pharmaceutical industry.

Helping Services

Most areas of the UK have ‘street agencies’ or projects (sometimes called community drug services or community drug teams) which offer a range of services including information and advice, counselling, and sometimes support groups and complementary therapies such as acupuncture. Some services have extended working hours and may offer weekend support. If use of this substance becomes a problem you can seek help, advice and counselling from a service in your area. GPs can make referrals to specialist drug services. For those suffering psychological problems due to steroid use, counselling agencies may be appropriate.

For more information, please go to the IPEDS website.

Parents & other relatives

Many drug agencies also provide lots of advice and support to parents, family members and partners of people using drugs. They may provide relative support groups or advice, guidance and counselling on a one to one basis.