By Leo Ward
People use them for skin treatment, health and recovery. But like many drugs, they are abused.
Steroids – or roids for short – have been pointed out for their extreme side effects, turning people from human to science experiments.
The abuse of roids often leads to animalistic behaviour, caused by the highly intensified increase of testosterone. Although behaviour caused by testosterone remains present in modern human civilisation, actions are supressed by social and familial inhibitions unlike our long past ancestors.
Image by pixaby, Man using dumbells
However, with the use of steroids, which cause a significant enlargement in testosterone levels, animalistic male behaviour instincts become unsuppressed causing aggressive acts leading to higher levels of crime and aggression in sports or domestic home life.
But why do steroids increase testosterone? Well, testosterone plays a part in the heightened senses of survival which link to the muscular system, therefore causing muscle growth and muscle alertness, resulting in a constant “pump” that improves male performance at the sacrifice of mental wellbeing.
The misuse of steroids also can lead to severe mood swings, paranoia, manic behaviour and hallucinations, as well as symptoms of addiction. The following affects of addiction are depression, anxiety, insomnia, anorexia, fatigue and a decreased sex drive.
Are people aware?
Lewis Wood, 19, says that people now aim for a healthy lifestyle. “Happy hour is not as appealing because it makes you feel crap after,” he said. He seems to believe that the use of steroids is a healthy choice, so should the government address the issue harder – or should the drug be banned completely for the use of exercise?
So, if they are harmful, are they illegal? The short answer is no. Anabolic steroids are a Class C medicine approved by pharmacists or with a prescription. They are legal for personal use and can be imported or exported if they travel with the owner. However, you can be sentenced for up to 14 years or fined if you are believed to share or sell on steroids to others.
We want it now
As the fitness lifestyle and gym culture grow in popularity, people of all ages have been known to misuse steroids, including adolescent boys and young men, who often suffer from body dysmorphic disorder, when they have an unrealistic view of their own appearance.
Honey Bolatiwa, a 31-year-old mental health admin, with a degree in psychology, believes “the exposure of having these big gym bro cultures can influence young men to resort to steroids”. She said that it is not sustainable to use these substances due to potential long-term side effects. It is not a “for life” drug and should only be used in short time spans and not long periods.
People with body dysmorphia use this drug as they do not see themselves as big or strong enough, as societal norms point towards the toxic image of unhealthy muscular men. Youngsters look up to many male role models who are “hench”, such as Superman, Batman and Iron Man.
Bolatiwa believes that although “superman is fictional”, studios and companies should aim to create more realistic role models that are still based on the principles of teamwork and moral justice, and that the large muscle physiques are not needed to carry that message.
A line between realism and fantasy
The drug is injected commonly but can also be used in the form of creams or tablets or gels. And many users are made fully aware of the side effects and believe taking them in certain ways can avoid issues or counter the side effects with traditional medicine.
But what are the physical side effects? Steroids put a large amount of pressure on the body and can cause heart attacks, high blood pressure and high cholesterol as well and liver and kidney failure. These side effects can happen to both men and woman but women in particular can see an increase breast size and a decrease in sex drive. Conversely, men can be infertile and have erectile dysfunction as well as breast development and testiclular cancer.
Steroid withdrawal can e extremely severe, causing intense burning to skin and extreme sensitivity as well as skin damage, making skin translucent and, in some cases, rot or fall off completely. Damage from stroids can take from months to years for the body to recover.
If you think or know you have a problem with steroid abuse, reach for help here.
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