Anabolic steroids are a class of drugs with a structure similar to the naturally occurring, male sex hormone testosterone. They bind to androgen receptors – and in turn – enable those who take them to enhance strength – muscle mass – and athletic performance.
In short, these synthetic drugs, which are also known as anabolic-androgenic steroids, mimic the masculinizing, muscle-building effects of testosterone. This has made them very popular, and not only with athletes, but among men who are testosterone deficient.
They are not only taken illegally or recreationally as there are medical issues that call on them for treatment, like asthma, allergies, and arthritis and inflammatory bowel disease.
But more times than not, anabolic steroids are used by athletes, and new and aspiring bodybuilders, to slim down and to stack on lean mass faster than they naturally could.
With such perks, though, can come a slew of negative side effects, with long-term use increasing the risk of issues like liver disease, organ damage, and cardiovascular strain.
This said, and before we go further, just know and keep in mind anabolic compounds are:
By no means are anabolic steroids new. They date back to the thirties, when testosterone was isolated by Dutch chemists in 1935. Since, many synthetic androgens were produced, which, consequentially, spurred an abuse epidemic that spanned most parts of the world.
Reason being is athletes realized how effective these compounds were at building muscle and strength. It is this reason use surged so rapidly among elite athletes and bodybuilders from the nineteen fifties to seventies. But in the 1980s – things changed – as anabolic roids made way into the daily life of millions who sought to enhance their physique and strength. Once everyday men saw the results bodybuilders had with them, many wanted to replicate the gains – this is a large part of the reason steroids ended up going mainstream so quickly.
No doubt, the nineteen eighties is when anabolic-androgenic steroids began to take off, as it was this decade when they branched off from elite training scenes to general population. And to this day, anabolic steroids are still widely used. And predominantly by middle-aged, non-competitive males, who take them with the sole goal of bolstering strength or muscle.
Anabolic-androgenic steroids are used to treat or relieve some medical issues.
But there is a large and growing number of people who actively use them illegally.
And from cutting steroids used to slim or burn fat, to bulking steroids used to build muscle mass and atrophy, people utilize various steroids for specific goals. Performance steroids are another type of anabolic. And one often preferred by athletes over a person who wants to build subtle to moderate amounts of muscle in the gym.
Labeled Class-C drugs in the UK, anabolic steroids are only legally used when taken under the guise and prescription of a doctor. This legal designation places it in the same category as drugs like Diazepam and Hydrocodone. As such, a prescription is needed to take them.
In the United States, is it illegal to take anabolic steroids without a prescription as the U.S. deems them Schedule III substances, as outlined in the Controlled Substances Act, which has been in effect since nineteen seventy.
In terms of pro sports, there, too, they are widely banned. Those who test positive for them are disqualified and barred or benched from playing. They might even face absorbent fines and possible prison time.
Personal drug imports are generally permitted but not technically legal.
Since 2000, millions of Americans with inadequate or no drug coverage, as well as those seeking critical medications that are not available domestically, have purchased medication from foreign pharmacies, mostly using online pharmacies. This process is known as personal drug importation. The U.S. government generally does not stop individuals from importing medication for their own use (usually up to a three-month supply of non-controlled drugs), however, under most circumstances, it is technically illegal. According to the FDA, no one has ever been prosecuted for personal drug importation (importing small quantities of medication for personal use).
While the law allows the FDA and the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol to detain and refuse international prescription orders arriving through the mail, less than one percent are actually stopped. In these cases, under U.S. law, you will be informed by the FDA that your drug order has been detained or refused and that you are allowed to challenge their decision to take away your medication to try and have it released. The U.S FDA regulates the safety and efficacy of medications sold in U.S. pharmacies. Medications dispensed from outside the U.S. are regulated for safety and efficacy by pharmaceutical/pharmacy regulatory authorities in other countries.
