Anabolic Steroids and Their Behavioral Effects
Anabolic steroids have the capability of building up muscles in the user’s body at a very fast rate. Most of the adolescents in the United States have at some points used AS. Anabolic steroids have various behavioral effects on the body of the users. Some of the most significant behavioral effects are strength build up as well as an increase in muscle mass. Other behavioral changes include increase performance in sports activities and improved appearance (Morrison et. al, 2016). Research indicates that most users of AS are very aggressive and easily resort to violence whenever provoked. Anabolic steroids also cause psychological issues to the users related to withdrawal symptoms. Study on the topic reversals that the most common withdrawal symptoms include mood swings, depression, violent behavior as well as rage. Recent research also shows a close relationship between Anabolic Steroids and psychotic behaviors as well as psychiatric disorders (Morrison et. al, 2016).
Side Effects of Anabolic Steroids
Anabolic steroids exhibit both acute and chronic side effects on the user. Some of the acute side effects include hair loss, oily skin, increased irritability, mood swings, suicidal tendencies, aggression as well as depression. Most of these acute side effects occur within a very short period of time after a person begins using steroids (Morrison et. al, 2016). Chronic side effects, on the other hand, are exhibited by the AS users after quite a long time. Some of these side effects include, heart conditions such as stroke and heart attack, delayed puberty, particularly in adolescent boys, hormonal imbalance, breast cancer in women, liver conditions such as cysts and liver tumors and kidney diseases. Other side effects include anemia, osteoporosis, endometriosis, impotence in mean as well as weight loss diseases in HIV patients (Morrison et. al, 2016).
The Interaction of Anabolic Steroids with Other Drugs
Using Anabolic steroids with other drugs increase the extent of the side effects by a great deal, in other cases, the mixing of drugs with AS can be fatal. Cocaine, when used with Anabolic steroids, increases dependency on toxicants as it reduces the central nervous systems sensitivity to cocaine and other drugs, users, therefore, use larger amounts of cocaine to get the effect they desire. As mentioned, Anabolic steroids have numerous side effects on the health of the user, both physiologically and psychologically. Alcohol use when on steroids increases the severity of the side effects mentioned (Nieschlag "Vorona, 2015).
The Risks of Anabolic Steroid Use
I was most surprised by the number of people using anabolic steroids including adolescences despite the severity of the side effects. As mentioned above, both the acute and chronic side effects are quite scary, with this knowledge, the use of steroids should be going down not up.
Decriminalization of Drugs
I don’t think all drugs should be legalized as some of the hard drugs have devastating side effects on the health of the users as well as their social lives. Currently, cocaine, heroin and crystal meth are among the hard drugs with the most severe side effects on the users. Their legalization will further increase the number of users and hence the health issues in the society.
I think all drugs should be decriminalization like the case in Portugal. Currently, a majority of users are youths who have no sense of directions for their lives yet represent the future of our generations. Punishment, as opposed to a prison sentence, will help secure the future of his population.
References
Morrison, T. R., Ricci, L. A., " Melloni Jr, R. H. (2016). Vasopressin differentially modulates aggression and anxiety in adolescent hamsters administered anabolic steroids. Hormones and behavior, 86, 55-63.
\Nieschlag, E., " Vorona, E. (2015). Doping with anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS): Adverse effects on non-reproductive organs and functions. Reviews in Endocrine and Metabolic Disorders, 16(3), 199-211.
