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Are steroids be considered addictive?
Compulsive use with loss of control, and
continued use despite adverse consequences.
When the use of any drug or substance, including steroids,
fits this description, the drug user has an addiction
problem.(1) The characteristics of steroid addiction have
been described as follows
2)
1) Hormone is used over longer periods than desired.
2) Attempts are made to stop without success.
3) Substantial time is spent obtaining, using, or recovering
from the hormones.
4) Use continues despite knowledge of significant
psychological problems caused by the hormones.
5) Characteristic withdrawal symptoms occur.
6) Hormone use is resumed to relieve these withdrawal
symptoms.
People who are dependent on anabolic steroids frequently began
to use them before age 16.(3) They take more cycles of
steroids for longer periods of time, and take many different types
of steroids at once.(3,4) They feel that their peers
use anabolics, and perceive themselves as having less strength or
smaller body size than their peers.(3,4) By contrast,
there are no reports of anabolic steroid dependence caused by
legitimate medical use.(3) In a psychological study of
eight weightlifters, all eight had at least two symptoms of drug
dependence on steroids. Six of them met the American Psychiatric
Association's DSM-III-R definition of addiction.(5)
What are the symptoms of withdrawal from steroids?
Athletes who abuse steroids often take them in a "cycling"
pattern: They take the drugs in very high doses for a period of
weeks or months, then stop taking them.(1,2) Stopping
anabolic steroids can lead to several physical and psychological
side effects, such as "depression, fatigue, decreased sex drive,
insomnia, loss of appetite, dissatisfaction with body image, and
craving for more steroids."(1,3)
Some researchers feel that there are two phases to the
withdrawal, but this concept is not widely accepted3,4) Phase
I occurs during the first week of withdrawal, and includes flu-
like symptoms such as joint pain, runny nose, diarrhea, and
elevated temperature.(3,4) Phase II begins the second week of
withdrawal and may last up to several months; symptoms are
depression and craving for steroids.(3,4) Whether this model
adequately describes the withdrawal symptoms of high-dose steroid
abuse or not, suicidal depression may occur after steroids are
withdrawn.(4-6) If possible, withdrawal from steroids should be
monitored by a health care professional to determine the risk of
suicide in each case.
Compulsive use with loss of control, and
continued use despite adverse consequences.
When the use of any drug or substance, including steroids,
fits this description, the drug user has an addiction
problem.(1) The characteristics of steroid addiction have
been described as follows
2)1) Hormone is used over longer periods than desired.
2) Attempts are made to stop without success.
3) Substantial time is spent obtaining, using, or recovering
from the hormones.
4) Use continues despite knowledge of significant
psychological problems caused by the hormones.
5) Characteristic withdrawal symptoms occur.
6) Hormone use is resumed to relieve these withdrawal
symptoms.
People who are dependent on anabolic steroids frequently began
to use them before age 16.(3) They take more cycles of
steroids for longer periods of time, and take many different types
of steroids at once.(3,4) They feel that their peers
use anabolics, and perceive themselves as having less strength or
smaller body size than their peers.(3,4) By contrast,
there are no reports of anabolic steroid dependence caused by
legitimate medical use.(3) In a psychological study of
eight weightlifters, all eight had at least two symptoms of drug
dependence on steroids. Six of them met the American Psychiatric
Association's DSM-III-R definition of addiction.(5)
What are the symptoms of withdrawal from steroids?
Athletes who abuse steroids often take them in a "cycling"
pattern: They take the drugs in very high doses for a period of
weeks or months, then stop taking them.(1,2) Stopping
anabolic steroids can lead to several physical and psychological
side effects, such as "depression, fatigue, decreased sex drive,
insomnia, loss of appetite, dissatisfaction with body image, and
craving for more steroids."(1,3)
Some researchers feel that there are two phases to the
withdrawal, but this concept is not widely accepted
3,4) PhaseI occurs during the first week of withdrawal, and includes flu-
like symptoms such as joint pain, runny nose, diarrhea, and
elevated temperature.(3,4) Phase II begins the second week of
withdrawal and may last up to several months; symptoms are
depression and craving for steroids.(3,4) Whether this model
adequately describes the withdrawal symptoms of high-dose steroid
abuse or not, suicidal depression may occur after steroids are
withdrawn.(4-6) If possible, withdrawal from steroids should be
monitored by a health care professional to determine the risk of
suicide in each case.
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