SteroidsSteroids• Some Some

questions we questions we need answers need answers toto

• What are steroids?What are steroids?• Who takes steroidsWho takes steroids• What happens to those What happens to those

who take them?who take them?• How would you know if How would you know if

someone took them?someone took them?• How do people get How do people get

them?them?• Where to find more Where to find more

information?information?

What are What are Steroids?Steroids?

Steroids are synthetic substances that are similar to the male sex hormone testosterone. Many doctors prescribe steroids to treat a number of health problems. However, steroids are never prescribed to young, and healthy people hoping to gain muscle. WITHOUT A PRESCRIPTION STEROIDS ARE ILLEGAL.

How are steroids taken?How are steroids taken?Steroids are often referred to as anabolic or androgenic substances. Anabolic promotes growth of the skeletal muscle; and androgenic cause the development of male sexual characteristics. Anabolic steroids are used by ingesting (pills) or by injection (needles – into the skeletal muscle). Some common types of steroids are:

Oral Steroids Injected steroids

Anadrol Decca

Oxandrin Depo

Dianabol Equipoise

Who takes steroids?Who takes steroids?Which of these individuals do you think is more likely to take steroids?

Policeman

Teenager

Woman

SportsmanBody builder

No its actually No its actually teenagers!teenagers!

What happens to those who What happens to those who take them?take them?

The symptoms of steroid use :The symptoms of steroid use :

How would you know if How would you know if someone takes them:someone takes them:

Where do people get Where do people get them ?them ?• Many people get them on the black market Many people get them on the black market

which can be from:which can be from:• Mail order cataloguesMail order catalogues

• The internetThe internet

• Drug dealersDrug dealers

• People stealing and selling themPeople stealing and selling them

• Gyms and health clubsGyms and health clubs

– What’s the problem buying from these What’s the problem buying from these sources?sources?

The problem with buying from The problem with buying from these sources are:these sources are:

• They are illegalThey are illegal• The quality of the substances are not The quality of the substances are not

protected. protected. • Many people buy steroids through Many people buy steroids through

the black market are getting the black market are getting substances filled with all sorts of substances filled with all sorts of things to pad them out. Such as things to pad them out. Such as water with dyes, sugar pills and even water with dyes, sugar pills and even horse testosterone! horse testosterone!

Where to go for more Where to go for more information:information:

• www.kidshealth.orgwww.kidshealth.org

• www.drugstory.orgwww.drugstory.org

Research for you to do:Research for you to do:

• Find out what corticosteroids are, Find out what corticosteroids are, and what substances they are and what substances they are contained in.contained in.

• Find out what anabolic steroids are Find out what anabolic steroids are and what substances they are in.and what substances they are in.

• Find out how tendons are affected by Find out how tendons are affected by steroids.steroids.