Steroids are primarily used to enhance athletic improvement and muscle development, but they are increasingly used by users that engage in other high-risk behaviors such as drinking and driving, carrying guns, and abusing other drugs. Studies show that steroid abuse is high among younger boys, as early as 8th grade, when the consideration of long-term effects is often ignored. It is estimated that between 1 million and 3 million people have abused steroids in the United States.
Steroids mimic the hormones testosterone and dihydrotestosterone, increasing protein synthesis and building cellular tissue mostly in muscle. Short-term, they can increase muscle mass, increase strength, and reduce body fat. They are highly addictive, both physically and psychologically, as people like the effects that steroids have on their physical appearance.
Long-term abuse of steroids can have disastrous effects on the body, including trembling, liver damage, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, cardiovascular disease, blood clots and heart problems that can lead to heart attacks and death by heart failure. The effects on the reproductive system are also devastating, and can result in anatomical changes in both men and women, and infertility in men. In adolescents, steroids can prematurely stop the lengthening of bones resulting in stunted growth.
Steroid abusers can also develop troubling aggressive behavior, losing their temper easily and reacting violently. They can also cause severe depression, triggering more steroid use and other destructive behaviors. Addicts often experience delusions about people, and what they are thinking about the user, that can damage personal and professional relationships.
Steroid Detox
Steroid abusers have strong physical and psychological addictions that can be extremely difficult to overcome. Detoxification from steroids requires medical attention because users can become despondent and violent during the process of withdrawal. Medications can be used to alleviate some of the immediate symptoms and ease addicts trough the detoxification process.
Steroid withdrawal symptoms can start suddenly and last for a long time, sometime years. Withdrawal symptoms can include:
- Mood swings
- Fatigue
- Restlessness
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia
- Severe depression
- Suicide attempts
Since there is no way to predict how an individual will respond to withdrawal, close medical attention is advised. Our health professionals are trained to help individuals get through the detox process as painlessly and comfortably as possible.
Treatment for Steroid Addiction
If you or someone you love is suffering from addiction, please call the Pasadena Recovery Center at (866) 663-3030. We’re available to talk with you twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We promise confidentiality and professionalism. Our comprehensive treatment program will address each client’s issues on an integrated basis, understanding that addiction often has underlying emotional and behavioral issues that need to be resolved.
At Pasadena Recovery Center, our dedicated staff understands the disease of addiction and we’re proud to offer lifesaving treatment at an affordable cost. Our goal is to reintroduce sober individuals into society with the skills necessary to lead meaningful, productive lives, through a compassionate and comprehensive treatment program. There is hope and we’re here to help, so please take the first step towards a better life by contacting us today.
