The Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan has been conducting surveys on drug use among adolescents and young adults in the United States since 1975, and publishes annual survey reports every year. In 1989, as the U.S. public became increasingly concerned about the misuse and abuse of anabolic steroids by teenagers and young adults, the institute added a survey of anabolic steroid use among teenagers and young adults to its survey content. Survey results in recent years have shown that although most American teenagers are aware of the dangers of using anabolic steroids, actual use is growing.
Among American teenagers, anabolic steroid abuse was originally primarily among boys, but there has been a dramatic increase in the number of girls abusing anabolic steroids since the early 1990s.
According to a 1997 survey: 175,000 girls had used anabolic steroids at least once in the past year, a 100% increase from 1991; the number of boys using anabolic steroids also continued to grow. 325,000 people have used it at least once in the past year.
Between 1989 and 1998, the number of American high school seniors who had used anabolic steroids at least once in their lives fluctuated between 3% and 1.9%.
In 1998, 2.7% of high school seniors had used anabolic steroids at least once in their lives. But in 1997, it was 2.4%. In the 1998 survey, 1.7% of seniors had used anabolic steroids at least once in the past year; in 1997, only 1.4%. In the 1998 survey, 1.1% of seniors had used anabolic steroids at least once in the past month; in 1997, only 1.0%.
A 1998 survey showed that 2.3% of 8th graders, 2.0% of 10th graders, and 2.7% of 12th graders had used anabolic steroids at least once in their lives; 8th graders who had used anabolic steroids in the past year Students accounted for 1.2%; 10th grade students also accounted for 1.2%, and 12th grade students accounted for 1.7%.
In addition to surveying the number of people who use anabolic steroids, the 1998 annual survey also released information on students' views on anabolic steroid use. The results indicate that U.S. students' perceptions of the dangers of anabolic steroid use, as well as attitudes disfavoring their use, have remained relatively stable throughout the 1990s.
68.1% of 12th graders know the dangers of using anabolic steroids.
91.4% of seniors said they disapproved of the use of anabolic steroids.
44.5% of seniors believe they can easily obtain anabolic steroids.
Investigation report says that anabolic steroids are male androgenA synthetic derivative of steroid, its full name is "androgenic anabolic steroid". These derivatives of testosterone can promote skeletal muscle growth and increase lean body mass. Anabolic steroids were initially abused by athletes looking to improve their athletic performance. Nowadays, anabolic steroids are not only abused by athletes who want to improve their performance, but also by those who want to improve their body shape and muscle appearance.
The investigation report pointed out that athletes and other abusers generally use anabolic steroids by mouth or injection. They do not use continuously, but use them regularly in cycles of weeks or months. They use various doses of anabolic steroids over a period of time, then stop for a period of time, and then start again. In addition, abusers often combine several different types of anabolic steroids to maximize effectiveness and minimize side effects.
Although abusers have anecdotally communicated to each other some "possibly effective" or "possibly safe" methods of use, investigation reports indicate that the use of anabolic steroids despite increased lean muscle mass, strength and ability to withstand longer periods of time and heavier weights The ability to train intensively, but the serious consequences of long-term high-dose use have largely not yet been demonstrated. Those who inject drugs, in particular, are at risk of contracting hepatitis or HIV.
The survey reported that the most important side effects of anabolic steroid use include: liver tumors, jaundice, fluid retention, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, as well as severe acne and tremors. Other side effects are as follows:
Causes men - **** atrophy, **** reduction, impotence, infertility, baldness, **** feminization;
Causes women - facial and body hair proliferation, menstrual disorders or cessation, vaginal hypertrophy, vaginal flatness, and deep voice;
Leads to adolescence - premature cessation of growth due to premature skeletal maturation and accelerated pubertal changes.
Other findings from the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research, which conducts the annual survey, also show that people who abuse anabolic steroids can display aggressiveness, violent tendencies and other psychological symptoms. Many people who use anabolic steroids report feeling great about themselves while taking the drugs. But researchers report that abuse of anabolic steroids can lead to mood disorders, including mania, violence and even suicide. When stopping the use of anabolic steroids, withdrawal reactions may occur, often manifesting as depression and drug dependence. Other serious consequences include paranoia and psychosis, jealousy, suspicion, extreme allergies, and impaired judgment resulting from a sense of invincibility.