Can you be addicted to steroids?

[.EA.]

why do u use that color font?

it fvkin kills me man.

x2
yea that green font suks,, i have to read the shite twice

Haha get a better monitor.

And hey, at least if you read my sh1t twice you'll fully understand what I'm trying to get across. Is this better?

[Dukkit]

co-caine is a mental addiction. i know from personal experience along with medical studies

i believe AAS is the same way. you like how it makes you feel/look/get attention etc. so you keep using it.

[elfin1mf]

co-caine is a mental addiction. i know from personal experience along with medical studies

i believe AAS is the same way. you like how it makes you feel/look/get attention etc. so you keep using it.

Honestly I think it is an ambiguous line between physical and mental addictions. Cocaine for me was a physical addiction, the only one I ever had. I used it for 2 months because I had an abscess in my wisdom tooth. The pain was so terrible I resorted to calling an old friend turned drug addict for help. I only rubbed it on my tooth, once every 2-3 hours. I was not aware at the time, but the addiction can come just as powerful if not more so when applied to an abscessed tooth. When I ran out of coke, the pain seemed to come back even worse. I became psychotic. I threatened to kill a family member because "the pain is so bad" and they did not "understand". 3 days later the pain completely stopped and I was normal again. The worst addictions come from pain when you have no drugs left... This is why coke and opiates can have such immense effects on people who run out of ways of getting them after prolonged use. It can make a person completely insane to go from no pain at all in any way for months, to what.. in comparison.. feels like eternal hellfire unless you get more somehow. I can see how someone might do ANYTHING to get more... just to make the pain go away.

[dec11]

Honestly I think it is an ambiguous line between physical and mental addictions. Cocaine for me was a physical addiction, the only one I ever had. I used it for 2 months because I had an abscess in my wisdom tooth. The pain was so terrible I resorted to calling an old friend turned drug addict for help. I only rubbed it on my tooth, once every 2-3 hours. I was not aware at the time, but the addiction can come just as powerful if not more so when applied to an abscessed tooth. When I ran out of coke, the pain seemed to come back even worse. I became psychotic. I threatened to kill a family member because "the pain is so bad" and they did not "understand". 3 days later the pain completely stopped and I was normal again. The worst addictions come from pain when you have no drugs left... This is why coke and opiates can have such immense effects on people who run out of ways of getting them after prolonged use. It can make a person completely insane to go from no pain at all in any way for months, to what.. in comparison.. feels like eternal hellfire unless you get more somehow. I can see how someone might do ANYTHING to get more... just to make the pain go away.

neva heard of a dentist?

[sean_holland]

They are addictive psychologically. They become apart of your identity. Vanity is a big part of this. People identify themselves by their personal body image and what people see them as, so when you become a regular user your expectations to stay on par or get bigger becomes a driving force in your mentality.

As far as a physical addiction, its not the same as Cocaine, Opiates, Methamphetamine, Alcohol, Tobacco, etc because your withdrawal symptoms are not nearly as severe and your 'desire' to re-use isn't as much to satiate internal 'need' as other high-dependence substances.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...endence%29.svg

[Ghost84]

In my opinion this is something of a twisting of words.
But if we take our case as an example.
Would anyone take steroids if he suddenly lost interest in training?
Would anyone here train without steroids?

I think these 2 (training and steroids) go hand in hand if we where to talk about addiction.

But as someone said earlier, you can be addicted to anything.

My girlfriend broke her leg playing soccer as she loves to do, and when she couldnt train for half a year she started getting kinda moody, cried easily, felt somewhat down. Lost selfestem cause she knew her physical performance went down the drain.

I thought for myself many times...where do I recognize this from??

[Kratos]

?

I think these 2 (training and steroids) go hand in hand if we where to talk about addiction.

Mabye they go hand in hand because of the addiction?

2009 May-Jun;17(3):187-99.

The relationship between anabolic androgenic steroids and muscle dysmorphia: a review.
Rohman L.

Department of Mental Health, St. George's University of London, 43 Broadwater Road, Tooting, London SW17 0DU, UK. [email protected]

This review explores the condition of muscle dysmorphia (MD) and its relationship with anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS). Particular emphasis is placed upon whether anabolic steroids are a predisposing, precipitating or perpetuating factor of MD. Furthermore, psychiatric complications of AAS abuse are examined. The current evidence from the literature suggests that AAS (ab)use is possibly a perpetuating factor in the evolution of MD. Psychiatric complications of AAS include mood and behavior changes, perceptual abnormalities, and withdrawal symptoms. In addition, there appears to be a credible dependence theory to AAS in fruition.

[RANA]

I don't have an addictive personality but I can tell you I love being on a cycle, I hate knowning that I will be coming off and I can't wait to start my next one. Having said that I would call it a controlled addiction

[number twelve]

i knew i would be mentally hooked before i even stuck myself for the first time, and i was right

[Kratos]

2009 Sep 18. [Epub ahead of print]

Illicit anabolic-androgenic steroid use.
Kanayama G, Hudson JI, Pope HG Jr.

Biological Psychiatry Laboratory, McLean Hospital, Belmont, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.

The anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are a family of hormones that includes testosterone and its derivatives. These substances have been used by elite athletes since the 1950s, but they did not become widespread drugs of abuse in the general population until the 1980s. Thus, knowledge of the medical and behavioral effects of illicit AAS use is still evolving. Surveys suggest that many millions of boys and men, primarily in Western countries, have abused AAS to enhance athletic performance or personal appearance. AAS use among girls and women is much less common. Taken in supraphysiologic doses, AAS show various long-term adverse medical effects, especially cardiovascular toxicity. Behavioral effects of AAS include hypomanic or manic symptoms, sometimes accompanied by aggression or violence, which usually occur while taking AAS, and depressive symptoms occurring during AAS withdrawal. However, these symptoms are idiosyncratic and afflict only a minority of illicit users; the mechanism of these idiosyncratic responses remains unclear. AAS users may also ingest a range of other illicit drugs, including both "body image" drugs to enhance physical appearance or performance, and classical drugs of abuse. In particular, AAS users appear particularly prone to opioid use. There may well be a biological basis for this association, since both human and animal data suggest that AAS and opioids may share similar brain mechanisms. Finally, AAS may cause a dependence syndrome in a substantial minority of users. AAS dependence may pose a growing public health problem in future years but remains little studied.

[Kratos]

no rec drug talk elfin, chill with that and edit it from the other threads where you were talking about IV use

[elfin1mf]

no matter what substances we use, arent we all just trying to make some sort of pain go away? When we eat.. arent we trying to cure our hunger pains through uptake of nutritients via hormones?, or otherwise stimulate dopamine, which in comparison to less dopamine may seem like less pain?

[elfin1mf]

sorry kratos, it is deleted.

[Ghost84]

How many of you guys does actually take the "right" amount of time off steroids between cycles?

[Vitruvian-Man]

I didn't read the comments in this thread, because I'm on my mobile, but from the OP I will tell you that YES - from a psychological perspective steroids ARE addictive.

They are actually considered MORE addictive then MJ. MJ is known to have about a 10% addiction rate. Steroids are considered a tad higher then this.

The next stages of drug / hormone addiction lead up to drugs such as opiates, etc.

If you look at the concept of addiction from a psychological perspective it is very possible that people can become addicted to steroids. To clarify, people become addicted to pharmacological drugs because of the drugs "potential for addiction" (which is essentially governed by how lipid soluble the particular drug is.... the higher the lipid solubility = the higher chances of tolerance aka addiction.)

Similarly, pharmacological drugs (mostly anything that is psychoactive, etc.) pass through the mesolimbic pathways of the brain, which is considered the "reward pathway" because it holds the dopaminergic pathways. Once this pathway becomes sensitized by a particular drug, you begin to experience cravings.

Is in regards to this theory, is my belief that steroids may act in a similar fashion. Although steroids do not alter perception like pharmacological drugs, AAS are still hormones, and therefore once levels are unbalanced (not at homeostasis) there should be a mental rebound effect... which is conducive to addiction. (and which is why I believe steroid users eventually fall into repetitive patterns of use -- they fell inadequate when not on AAS, so they 'crave' their need for physical 'approval' -- [approval which is generally only in the users OWN mind!]

Hope that helped clear up your questions... and sorry in advance to D7M lol

[D7M]

I didn't read the comments in this thread, because I'm on my mobile, but from the OP I will tell you that YES - from a psychological perspective steroids ARE addictive.

They are actually considered MORE addictive then Mary-J (sorry I will edit this out in 1 sec, if it's inappropriate). Mary-Jane is known to have about a 10% addiction rate. Steroids are considered a tad higher then this.

The next stages of drug / hormone addiction lead up to drugs such as meth, crack, etc.

If you look at the concept of addiction from a psychological perspective it is very possible that people can become addicted to steroids. To clarify, people become addicted to pharmacological drugs because of the drugs "potential for addiction" (which is essentially governed by how lipid soluble the particular drug is.... the higher the lipid solubility = the higher chances of tolerance aka addiction.)

Similarly, pharmacological drugs (mostly anything that is psychoactive, etc.) pass through the mesolimbic pathways of the brain, which is considered the "reward pathway" because it holds the dopaminergic pathways. Once this pathway becomes sensitized by a particular drug, you begin to experience cravings.

My thesis is in regards to this theory, is my belief that steroids may act in a similar fashion. Although steroids do not alter perception like pharmacological drugs, AAS are still hormones, and therefore once levels are unbalanced (not at homeostasis) there should be a mental rebound effect... which is conducive to addiction. (and which is why I believe steroid users eventually fall into repetitive patterns of use -- they fell inadequate when not on AAS, so they 'crave' their need for physical 'approval' -- [approval which is generally only in the users OWN mind!]

Hope that helped clear up your questions... and sorry in advance to D7M lol

[Kratos]

They are actually considered MORE addictive then Mary-J (sorry I will edit this out in 1 sec, if it's inappropriate). Mary-Jane is known to have about a 10% addiction rate. Steroids are considered a tad higher then this.

The next stages of drug / hormone addiction lead up to drugs such as meth, crack, etc.

If you look at the concept of addiction from a psychological perspective it is very possible that people can become addicted to steroids. To clarify, people become addicted to pharmacological drugs because of the drugs "potential for addiction" (which is essentially governed by how lipid soluble the particular drug is.... the higher the lipid solubility = the higher chances of tolerance aka addiction.)
lol

What are you talking about?
Lipid solubility is important for crossing the blood brain barrier, yes...but has nothing to do with addiction.
For example: Neurontin is very lipophilic, morphine is not. Nobody is selling their bodies for a neurontin fix.

and anybody who's made brownies knows THC melts in oil, yet you say it's not addictive.

[dec11]

i dont find them addictive in any shape or form, i find training addictive and steroids a boost to tht, the same as supps only more powerful of course

[dec11]

any of us can drop at anytime from anything

[elfin1mf]

It was an ongoing problem declan, orajel was not working for me and the pain just kept getting worse. Dentist did not help.

[terraj]

I would say the bulk of people who are attracted to the BB/ steriod life have

addictive personalities.

[CRACKER]

if your body naturally produces something and you take something that shuts it down you are now physically dependant on that chemical end of story and not to mention the psycological dependancy s/p? thanks all

[ranging1]

i have no doubt anabolics can be addictive or people develop a dependence on them

i mean people wouldnt be on their 8th or 9th cycle alwise

i persoanlly think anything can be addictive, however i dont think its the substance that is always the addictive one

rather i think its people personality traits and characteristics that will determine whether or not they feel addicted or dependent on steroids

i think its like alcohol,

alcohol itself isnt addictive, however we have alcoholics that cant live without it and are dependent on it

i think the same goes with steroids

[fastwardo]

i have no doubt anabolics can be addictive or people develop a dependence on them

i mean people wouldnt be on their 8th or 9th cycle alwise

i persoanlly think anything can be addictive, however i dont think its the substance that is always the addictive one

rather i think its people personality traits and characteristics that will determine whether or not they feel addicted or dependent on steroids

i think its like alcohol,

alcohol itself isnt addictive, however we have alcoholics that cant live without it and are dependent on it

i think the same goes with steroids

R u kidding? Alcohol is one of the most addictive drugs known to man, physically and mentally. In fact, it is the only drug whos withdrawal symptoms can actually kill you! Seizures, delirium tremens, vomiting, cold sweats, shakes.

[*El Diablo*]

I have a very addictive personality, thats why i dont touch alcohol or cigarettes etc. But im a proud AAS addict.

[BeastIn916]

simply put.

If you like something where it affects yourself, and daily activities and completely lose touch with reality.

that is addiction.

[bjpennnn]

mentally they can be highly addictive but physically no.

[Kratos]

mentally they can be highly addictive but physically no.

Tennant et al. (1988) recently described the case of apparent physical dependence on anabolic-androgenic steroids in a 23-year-old male bodybuilder who had been using anabolic-androgenic steroids (methandrostenolone 75mg and methenolone 150mg intramuscularly every other day and oxandrolone 20mg and oxymetholone 100mg orally each day) for 3 years and who was unable to abstain from anabolic-androgenic steroids without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, including depression, disabling fatigue and violent, paranoid, and suicidal thoughts and feelings. Urinalysis was negative for alcohol, amphetamines, cannabinoid metabolites, cocaine metabolites, opioids and phencylcidine. Classic opioid withdrawal symptoms appeared following naloxone administration and anabolic-androgenic steroid cessation. However, despite being treated with clonidine over the next 6 days and a decrease in withdrawal symptoms, the patient left the treatment programme and apparently resumed use of anabolic-androgenic steroids 7 days after admission.

Brower et al. (1989a) reported the case of a 24-year-old male noncompetitive weightlifter whose dependence on a combination of anabolic-androgenic steroids (200mg of testosterone cypionate intramuscularly every 3 days, 100mg of nandrolone decanoate intramuscularly every 3 days, 25mg of oxandrolone orally daily, 30 to 45mg of bolasterone subcutaneously every 2 to 3 days, and 1000 to 2000 units of human chorionic gonadotrophin intramuscularly every 2 to 3 days) met criteria for psychoactive substance dependence. Tolerance, withdrawal symptoms (depression, fatigue), and the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids to alleviate withdrawal symptoms had occurred. An uncontrolled pattern of anabolic-androgenic steroid use continued, despite adverse consequences such as severe mood disturbance (irritability, euphoria, anxiety, depression), marital conflict, and changes of the patient’s usual values and life goals.

Hays et al. (1990) also have reported a similar case in which a 22-year-old male noncompetitive weightlifter who had been using anabolic-androgenic steroids for 9 months (25mg of oxandrolone daily, nandrolone phenpropionate, testosterone propionate intramuscularly each week, and methandrostenolone) presented with complaints of depression and inability to cease anabolic-androgenic steroid use. The patient felt depressed, fatigued, had occasional temper outbursts, and slept less when taking the steroids. Steroid craving and decreased self-esteem were reported between periods of steroid use. Following 1 week and improvement in mood, the man was discharged from the hospital chemical dependency treatment unit.

In another study by Brower et al. (1990) of 8 anabolic-androgenic steroid-using weightlifters, all reported both withdrawal symptoms and uncontrolled use despite adverse consequences (feeling nervous, irritable, or depressed). Psychiatric, especially depressive, symptoms were prominent in most of the dependent users. Brower (1990) has suggested that some conventional drug abuse treatments such as pharmacotherapy (used with cocaine withdrawal) or psychotherapy may be effective with dependent anabolic-androgenic steroid users.

Finally, Kashkin and Kleber (1989) in their review, suggest that the psychoactive effects, withdrawal symptoms, and underlying biological mechanisms of steroid hormones, including anabolic-androgenic steroids, appear similar to the mechanisms and complications accompanying cocaine, alcohol or opioid abuse. They concur that a proportion of anabolic-androgenic steroid abusers may develop a sex steroid hormone dependence disorder and that treatment should be based on research into steroid effects on both opioid and aminergic neurotransmission systems and relapse prevention.

[chuckt12345]

Tennant et al. (1988) recently described the case of apparent physical dependence on anabolic-androgenic steroids in a 23-year-old male bodybuilder who had been using anabolic-androgenic steroids (methandrostenolone 75mg and methenolone 150mg intramuscularly every other day and oxandrolone 20mg and oxymetholone 100mg orally each day) for 3 years and who was unable to abstain from anabolic-androgenic steroids without experiencing severe withdrawal symptoms, including depression, disabling fatigue and violent, paranoid, and suicidal thoughts and feelings. Urinalysis was negative for alcohol, amphetamines, cannabinoid metabolites, cocaine metabolites, opioids and phencylcidine. Classic opioid withdrawal symptoms appeared following naloxone administration and anabolic-androgenic steroid cessation. However, despite being treated with clonidine over the next 6 days and a decrease in withdrawal symptoms, the patient left the treatment programme and apparently resumed use of anabolic-androgenic steroids 7 days after admission.

Brower et al. (1989a) reported the case of a 24-year-old male noncompetitive weightlifter whose dependence on a combination of anabolic-androgenic steroids (200mg of testosterone cypionate intramuscularly every 3 days, 100mg of nandrolone decanoate intramuscularly every 3 days, 25mg of oxandrolone orally daily, 30 to 45mg of bolasterone subcutaneously every 2 to 3 days, and 1000 to 2000 units of human chorionic gonadotrophin intramuscularly every 2 to 3 days) met criteria for psychoactive substance dependence. Tolerance, withdrawal symptoms (depression, fatigue), and the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids to alleviate withdrawal symptoms had occurred. An uncontrolled pattern of anabolic-androgenic steroid use continued, despite adverse consequences such as severe mood disturbance (irritability, euphoria, anxiety, depression), marital conflict, and changes of the patient’s usual values and life goals.

Hays et al. (1990) also have reported a similar case in which a 22-year-old male noncompetitive weightlifter who had been using anabolic-androgenic steroids for 9 months (25mg of oxandrolone daily, nandrolone phenpropionate, testosterone propionate intramuscularly each week, and methandrostenolone) presented with complaints of depression and inability to cease anabolic-androgenic steroid use. The patient felt depressed, fatigued, had occasional temper outbursts, and slept less when taking the steroids. Steroid craving and decreased self-esteem were reported between periods of steroid use. Following 1 week and improvement in mood, the man was discharged from the hospital chemical dependency treatment unit.

In another study by Brower et al. (1990) of 8 anabolic-androgenic steroid-using weightlifters, all reported both withdrawal symptoms and uncontrolled use despite adverse consequences (feeling nervous, irritable, or depressed). Psychiatric, especially depressive, symptoms were prominent in most of the dependent users. Brower (1990) has suggested that some conventional drug abuse treatments such as pharmacotherapy (used with cocaine withdrawal) or psychotherapy may be effective with dependent anabolic-androgenic steroid users.

Finally, Kashkin and Kleber (1989) in their review, suggest that the psychoactive effects, withdrawal symptoms, and underlying biological mechanisms of steroid hormones, including anabolic-androgenic steroids, appear similar to the mechanisms and complications accompanying cocaine, alcohol or opioid abuse. They concur that a proportion of anabolic-androgenic steroid abusers may develop a sex steroid hormone dependence disorder and that treatment should be based on research into steroid effects on both opioid and aminergic neurotransmission systems and relapse prevention.

Interesting,, Seems like most of the withdraw symptoms they mention correlate with no testestrone in the system.

[bjpennnn]

I work in the chemical dependency field and it is not considered a physically dependent drug....it may be one day but it does not meet the criteria of today.

[RANA]

Damn BJ, I have not seen you here in forever

[bjpennnn]

Damn BJ, I have not seen you here in forever

Ya, I have been gone for awhile just got certified as a chemical dependency counselor in California, been working at this adolescent rehab center taking up all my time. I cant believe about t-mos....

[bjpennnn]

I am just not going to go into this. I have taken huge amounts of steriods at a very young age, when my hormones would be the most screwed up from it and did not experience withdrawals. They are throwing that word around to much. I have also used large amounts of recreational drugs and been to rehab for over a year and i cannot compare how you feel from coming down from misc. drug or even quitting smoking cigs to stopping steroids. I have never stole from people to get my steroid "Fix". These two are just not in the same category. Mentally they are insanely addictive for sure.

[Nobuddy]

aren't we all gonna die 12-20-12, anyway

[Critical Mass]

Life is a happy medium. Too much of everything will kill you. The list goes on.

[BJJ]

aren't we all gonna die 12-21-12, anyway

...

[Dizz28]

Ya Kratos, you must be battin for the LE team. We knew it all along....

[Someguy123]

i dont think anybody here, would really believe that steroid use was free of negative effects. it all comes down, to if the juice is worth the squeeze. personally, if i cut 20 years off my life, thats not a big deal. the last 20 years are the sh!tty ones anyway. and the day someone needs to wipe my ass for me, they can put a bullet in me too.

as for all the bodybuilders dying. you gotta remember that, that is not from steroid use. if it is from steroids at all, its from steroid ABUSE. but my opinion, is that the contest prep is far worse for your body, than the steroid use is. your body is not designed to run at such low body fat, simultaneously being dehydrated, and not to mention being borderline hypoglycemic at the same time. like really, what else would you expect to happen, to a person that does this to their body on a regular basis??

with my view on addictions, they are basically all mental addictions. the reason any addict cant quit. is because they dont have the mental toughness, to stick out the withdrawl symptoms. personally, im pretty sure i could shoot heroine for a month straight, and then just stop cold turkey. it would suck, and i would feel like crap for awhile. but my mind has the ability to endure the hard times, for the benefits in the long term. whereas an addict, would just rather cop out and live for the short term.

[bjpennnn]

i dont think anybody here, would really believe that steroid use was free of negative effects. it all comes down, to if the juice is worth the squeeze. personally, if i cut 20 years off my life, thats not a big deal. the last 20 years are the sh!tty ones anyway. and the day someone needs to wipe my ass for me, they can put a bullet in me too.

as for all the bodybuilders dying. you gotta remember that, that is not from steroid use. if it is from steroids at all, its from steroid ABUSE. but my opinion, is that the contest prep is far worse for your body, than the steroid use is. your body is not designed to run at such low body fat, simultaneously being dehydrated, and not to mention being borderline hypoglycemic at the same time. like really, what else would you expect to happen, to a person that does this to their body on a regular basis??

with my view on addictions, they are basically all mental addictions. the reason any addict cant quit. is because they dont have the mental toughness, to stick out the withdrawl symptoms. personally, im pretty sure i could shoot heroine for a month straight, and then just stop cold turkey. it would suck, and i would feel like crap for awhile. but my mind has the ability to endure the hard times, for the benefits in the long term. whereas an addict, would just rather cop out and live for the short term.

i want to see you stick a needle in your arm everyday then quit cold turkey. those are soem pretty big words my friend unless you can say you have done this yourself. Your body actually physically becomes dependent on such drugs when you wake up it feels like the flu shitting your pants and throwing up cant eat sleep for days.

i understand what your saying but your wrong.

[fastwardo]

i want to see you stick a needle in your arm everyday then quit cold turkey. those are soem pretty big words my friend unless you can say you have done this yourself. Your body actually physically becomes dependent on such drugs when you wake up it feels like the flu shitting your pants and throwing up cant eat sleep for days.

i understand what your saying but your wrong.

I agree. I am a recovering drug addict as well, and just about every addict who ever lived said, "ohh I can take this drug for a while and I will be able to quit in a month or two no problem cause I'm tough." That is textbook addict thinking.
well, you may be tough, but what people dont understand is that the drugs REMOVE your toughness and willpower. thats what addiction is. I know dozens of recovering addicts, and many of them are the toughest, most strong willed people I have ever known, yet they couldn't stay sober for a day. After a month of shooting heroin, you just wont care about being "mentally tough" anymore lol.