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Steroids
"Juice" |
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Steroids
- The Facts
Steroids are a manufactured form of testosterone. Steroids can be
taken orally or can be injected (through needles). Most people using
steroids inject them. Using steroids alone will not get you that muscular
look. You still have to do strict work outs and stick to a healthy
diet.
In men and women testosterone is responsible for protein and red blood
cell production. Red blood cells carry oxygen to your cells and repair
tissues. It also increases the appearance of secondary male sex characteristics
such as hair growth, deepening voice, activity of sweat glands, increased
aggression and sexual behaviour.
Under normal conditions the male body produces from 2.5 to 11 mg of
testosterone a day and the female body produces 0.25 mg per day. In
males, testosterone production peaks during puberty and starts to
decline by about age 23.
Strength
Steroids combined with a strict work out schedule are used to increase
strength, muscle mass, reduce recovery time and increase the intensity
of training sessions.
Some harm reduction strategies
Bodybuilders often use too much juice (street name for
steroids). What your body doesn't use, just ends up going
down the toilet. You are peeing your money away. But
more importantly, if you are using too much juice, you are
putting extra stress on your kidneys, liver and heart.
More is not better – To find the right dose for you,
start small and build up. Have your doctor monitor your
kidney and liver functions. There are no magical numbers
when it comes to the correct amount of juice. Most people
try and figure out what might work for them by asking others
how much they use.
You can't juice for life – It is important to cycle your
steroids (e.g., three months on, three months or longer off).
Risks of injecting
- Abscess:
an area of infection around the injection site
- Cellulitis:
a painful inflammation of the skin that spreads
- Hitting
a nerve
- The
injection site may become sore and irritated
- Hepatitis
B, Hepatitis C and HIV from contact with infected blood through
needle sharing or sharing steroid vials. Consider getting vaccinated
against Hepatitis B
- Enlargement
of the heart muscle
- Possibility
of physical dependence leading to withdrawal symptoms (e.g., fever,
sweats)
- Psychological
dependence
Never
share your injection equipment or vials, you could transmit HIV
and Hepatitis
Possible side effects
Most of the risks involved are dependent on the dose of the steroid
used. The general rule is, the higher the dose, the greater the side
effects.
- Acne,
aggression and depression
- Fluid
retention, which can lead to, increased blood pressure (hypertension)
- Liver
damage which is mostly associated with oral preparations
- Kidney
damage due to the extra work that must be done to process the
steroid and the extra fluid
- Increased
blood pressure (you might get headaches)
- Decreased
cardiovascular health
- Stunted
growth if taken during adolescence
- Enlargement
of heart muscle
Male side effects
- Increased
size of prostrate gland
- Increase
in male pattern baldness
- Shrinkage
of the testicles and decreased sperm production
- Gyncomastia
(growing of breasts or bitch tits)
Female side effects
- Virilization
(the development of male characteristics such as deepening of
the voice, hair loss, increased body hair, increased clitoris
size, menstrual irregularities)
- Uterine
atrophy (wasting away) and birth defects of children due to the
high level of male hormone
- Increased
risk of osteoporosis (bone loss)
Outcomes of steroid use
- Increased
muscle mass
- Increased
muscle strength
- May
prevent injury by strengthening other muscles
- Increased
metabolic rates means you can eat more
- Possible
better body image
Harm reduction
- It
is not advisable to cycle with multiple steroid types. Try one
type of steroid at a time for a minimum of one month and see how
your body reacts
- Do
not share needles or vials
- Do
not re-use needles, even on yourself
- If
you are sharing a vial, never put a syringe that has been used
back in that same vial
Difference between street and prescription steroids
| Street |
Prescribed |
Substances
are not monitored Often you may not be getting what you want
|
Substances
are monitored
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Concentrations
not monitored i.e. preparations could be diluted or strong enough
to cause an overdose
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Concentrations
are
monitored
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Difficult
to tell whether product is a fake
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Products
have not been
tampered with |
| Easy
to find |
Harder
to get a prescription
Costs more than street |
The
Works offers:
- Needles
- Condoms
- Information
about safer injection
- Methadone
- Testing
for HIV, Hepatitis and Syphilis
- Counselling
- Referrals
to drug treatment & detox
- Vaccines
for Hepatitis B and flu
For
more information contact us at:
416-392-0520
Toronto Public Health
277 Victoria Street, Main Floor, Toronto
(one block from Yonge and Dundas)
All services are free and confidential. |
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