Possession or sale of anabolic steroids without a valid prescription is illegal. The use of anabolic steroids is illegal and prohibited by professional sports organizations and medical associations. Despite this, some athletes continue to take steroids because they believe they give them a competitive advantage. As seen in high-profile cases, if an athlete is caught using steroids, their career can be destroyed.
And there are serious health consequences. However, doctors never prescribe anabolic steroids to young, healthy people to help them build muscle. Without a prescription from a doctor, steroids are illegal. Most sports organizations prohibit taking anabolic-androgenic steroids to improve sports performance and it's illegal.
Over the past 20 years, more effective law enforcement in the United States has pushed much of the illegal steroid industry to the black market. In 2004, Congress enacted the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004, which banned over-the-counter steroid precursors; increased penalties for manufacturing, selling, or possessing illegal steroid precursors; and provided funding for preventive education initiatives. Steroid users may experience withdrawal symptoms, such as mood changes, fatigue, restlessness, and depression. People of different ages abuse steroids; however, it is difficult to quantify the extent of steroid abuse in the United States because many data sources that measure drug use exclude steroids.
Other steroid users may pyramize their steroids, starting with a low dose and gradually increasing the dose, frequency, or quantity of anabolic steroids taken, then decreasing them to complete a cycle. Some law enforcement personnel may believe that steroids provide them with a physical and psychological advantage in the performance of their work. Examples of medications that serve as alternatives to anabolic steroids include clenbuterol, human growth hormone, insulin, insulin-like growth factor, and gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB). Take the time to learn about the potential benefits, health risks and the many unknowns about so-called performance-enhancing drugs, such as anabolic steroids, androstenedione, human growth hormone, erythropoietin, diuretics, creatine and stimulants.
Smuggling from these areas is easier because a doctor's prescription is not required to purchase steroids. The length of time steroids stay in the body ranges from a couple of days to more than 12 months. By injecting steroids with a needle, teens can add HIV and hepatitis B and C to their list of health risks. While the penalties mentioned above are for federal crimes, individual states have also implemented fines and penalties for the illegal use of anabolic steroids.
Adolescents who abuse steroids before typical adolescent growth spurts are at risk of falling short and never reaching their full adult height. For purposes of illegal use there are several sources; the most common illegal source is the smuggling of steroids to the United States from other countries such as Mexico and European countries.
