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Steroids (Anabolic)

Brief Description

“Anabolic steroids” is the familiar name for synthetic variants of the male sex hormone testosterone. The proper term for these compounds is anabolic-androgenic steroids (abbreviated AAS)—“anabolic” referring to muscle-building and “androgenic” referring to increased male sexual characteristics. Learn more

Statistics and Trends

2012 Monitoring the Future (MTF) Study: for 8th-Graders, 10th-Graders, and 12th-Graders (in percent)*
Drug Time
Period
8th-
Graders
10th-
Graders
12th-
Graders
Steroids Lifetime 1.2 1.3 1.8
Past Year 0.6 0.8 1.3
Past Month 0.3 0.4 0.9

* Data in brackets indicate statistically significant change from the previous year.

 

Featured Publications

Anabolic Steroids (DrugFacts)

Revised July 2012.
Provides basic information about anabolic-androgenic steroids, such as how it is abused, its effects of the brain and mental health, its addictive potential, treatment, and the extent of abuse among youth. En Español

Publication Cover

Anabolic Steroids (Mind Over Matter)

Published January 1997. Revised January 2009.
Shows young teens how anabolic steroids can cause liver damage and cancer and weaken the immune system. En Español

Steroid Abuse and Addiction Research Report Cover

Anabolic Steroid Abuse (Research Reports)

Published July 2001. Revised August 2006.
Explores the latest research on anabolic steroid use, including health consequences of steroid abuse, the effects it can have on behavior, prevention research, and effective treatment approaches. En Español

Related Resources

Other Resources

Past information on many drugs of abuse is available on our Archives site.

This page was last updated December 2012

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Research Report

Research Report Cover

Anabolic Steroid Abuse

Explores the latest research on anabolic steroid use, including health consequences of steroid abuse, the effects it can have on behavior, prevention research, and effective treatment approaches.

Featured Publication

Featured Publication

Drugs, Brains, and Behavior - The Science of Addiction

As a result of scientific research, we know that addiction is a disease that affects both brain and behavior.