Steroids are synthetic versions of male hormones like testosterone. Steroids have both anabolic and androgenic properties; thus, they are technically called anabolic-androgenic steroids. The anabolic effects are those responsible for tissue building while the androgenic effects are those that promote masculine characteristics. The anabolic effects are what attract athletes and other individuals to this class of compounds; these properties facilitate muscle growth as well as increase in power and stamina.

Some may not be aware of the fact that steroids have been purposely developed to treat human diseases and not to enhance the athletic performance or physique of an individual. Steroids have legitimate medical uses as they are used to treat diverse disorders, ranging from hypogonadism to anemias. Some steroids are used to address chronic muscle-wasting conditions while others are prescribed as male contraceptives. The fact that steroids have become more popular nowadays for their non-medical potentials than for their therapeutic benefits brings forth the distorted perception that steroids are designed mainly for enhancement of athletic performance.

Steroids are available in variety of forms – orals, injectables, and transdermal versions. The transdermal versions can be in the form of gels, creams, or skin patches. Steroids are oftentimes called by such slang terms like gym candy, pumpers, roids, arnolds, and juice.

Currently, there are more than 100 different types of steroids available and, under the federal law of the United States, they are all classified as Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. This Act, as amended on February 27, 1997, considers possession, sale, and/or distribution of steroids without valid prescription an illegal act. Mere possession without prescription entails a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a minimum fine of $1000, if it is an individual’s first offense. Distribution or trafficking gets a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and a fine of $250,000 for first-time offenses. In case of second-time offenses, prison time and monetary fine is doubled. These penalties are for federal cases; individual states have their own laws concerning fines and penalties for illicit use of these drugs.

Steroids are used for their non-medical properties in a technique called cycling, which is the period of time when an individual take steroids. It is generally practiced that within a cycle, a non-medical user of steroids may take a break and then may resume intake of steroids. The purpose of the break period is to prevent the occurrence of adverse effects on the body’s natural production of hormones.

Stacking is also practiced by some users. Stacking is using two or more steroids during a cycle protocol. Anecdotal reports suggest that using a blend of these drugs can result to a synergistic effect – each drug in a stack multiplies the effects of the other drug/s.

Because of their legal status in the US, non-medical users find other routes to obtain steroids. The most common source of illegal steroids is the black market. Most of the steroids in the black market are smuggled into the US from places like Mexico where these drugs can be purchased without prescriptions or in countries where laws are relatively less stringent regarding these compounds.