Worried about a loved one, friend, or colleague, that you suspect has a steroid problem? Here is enough information to arm you with what to do next.

Watching someone you know or care about descend into addiction is a terrible thing to have to deal with in life. It can be the end of them, especially if they don’t get the help they need to recover. Unfortunately, you can only lead that person to those services. You cannot force them to use them. 

Here at Help4Addiction we have aided thousands of people just like you, who were worried about their friends. We can arm you with the information you need about rehab clinics, where your friend can get treatment to recover from addiction. It’s a horrible disease and some addictions cannot be beaten alone. Directing your loved one into rehab is the best way to help them on their journey back to the person they used to be. 

Today we will discuss steroid addiction: what you can do about it, how to spot the signs, and when to call a rehab selection service like ours for help.

 

Understanding Steroids and Why they are Addictive

Steroids are the shortened name for anabolic steroids. These are chemical compounds created within the bounds of medicine, to help the body with certain illnesses. Anabolic steroids can help severely ill patients gain weight, fight injury and infection, or maintain healthy mass. Abused, they interfere with the body’s production of testosterone. This causes health problems and can lead to addiction. Steroid misuse may be the result of body dysmorphia, wherein the user sees themselves as far different from how they physically present.

Steroids are addictive to those who wish to change their bodily appearance significantly. 

 

Why are Steroids Dangerous?

Using anabolic steroids long term can affect your mood. You will crave them, you will start to feel cranky and irritable without them, and you will continue to take more to keep yourself happy. If you or your loved one continue on the path of anabolic steroid use, you might expect the following side effects:

• Fluid retention
• Insomnia
• Nerve damage from injections
• Irritability
• increased or decreased libido
• Acne
• Reduced sperm count 
• Prostate problems
• Baldness
• Irregular menstruation
• Stretch marks
• Prematurely aging skin
• Liver disease
• Paranoia and depression
• High cholesterol and high blood pressure
• Delusions
• Potential infections caused by unsafe needle use

If you use steroids long term, you can expect all the worst of the above symptoms.

 

What are the Names of Common Steroids?

Anabolic steroids often have a substance name and a brand name. Here are some names to look out for if you are worried about a relative:

• Anadrol-50
• Oxandrin
• Winstrol
• Fluoxymesterone
• Halotestin
• Mesterolone
• Proviron
• Methandienone
• Dianabol/dbol
• Mibolerone
• Methyltestosterone
• Oxy
• Oxandrolone
• Anadrol
• Stanozolol

And a range of others.

 

Are Anabolic Steroids Legal in the UK?

If you live in the UK, the doctor might prescribe you another type of steroid called a corticosteroid. These are anti-inflammatory steroids and usually topical. Nevertheless, you may receive a prescription for an anabolic steroid if you are very unwell. If you take the medicine as prescribed your doctor will guide your use. If you take the medicine without a prescription, you are using it illegally.

Anabolic Steroids without a prescription are a Class C drug in the UK. If police catch you with them, police may arrest you, caution you, or have them confiscated. 

 

How to Spot Steroid Use: Signs and Paraphernalia

If you suspect a friend, son, daughter, husband, wife, or loved one, of using steroids, there are things to look out for to confirm it. Pay attention to how they view their bodies. If they have body dysmorphia, think they are larger or smaller than they are, or disparage themselves often, steroids could be at the bottom of it. 

You can take steroids orally but they may also inject them. Look for needles in their living spaces. Look for empty medication packets or prescriptions with other people’s names on them. 

Pay attention to your friend’s mood. If they are up and down, paranoid, delusional, or displaying symptoms of psychosis, this could be a sign of advanced drug use. 

 

What to Do When Your Friend is Using Steroids?

The first thing you should do is learn everything you can about the type of steroids they are taking. Arming yourself with all the information you find helps you support them and understand what they are going through. Secondly, give us a call on 0203 955 7700 and we can discuss treatment options. We can even send you some literature that you can pass on. The most important thing you can do is to be there for them without enabling them. See our past blogs for more.