Of the most prolific and common questions asked by athletes who are thinking of using steroids or who are mere beginners, is whether anabolic steroids are addictive. The simple answer to the question is that continued use of steroids is indeed addictive. The large percentage of steroid abuse cases becomes addictive. Most people who use the different steroid drugs continue their abuse despite clear cut physiological problems and negative side effects compounded on their social relations.

The definite consequence is that steroid abusers end up spending large amounts of both time and money in a bid to obtain the drugs. This is a key indication that the user is already addicted to steroid abuse. Further tell tale signs of addiction in abusers are withdrawal symptoms any time when steroids are not taken. Such symptoms include mood swings, restlessness, fatigue, loss of appetite, reduced sex drive, insomnia and severe steroid craving. Users conquer that the most dangerous withdrawal symptoms is severe depression that may even lead to suicide. If an addicted steroid abuser quits the habit, and doesn’t seek specialized help, depressive symptoms consequent to the withdrawal can persist for over an year.

Anti-drug abuse control and regulatory bodies across the world have realized the addictive potential of steroids. This has led to unanimous banning of steroids in most nations of the world. Further measures have been taken to curb the spread of their use, especially among users not yet addicted or even potential users. These candid prevention efforts currently focus on competing athletes participating in the Olympics or any other international or national professional sports contest.

However few high schools and colleges test for steroids abuse despite the increasing prove that young people are hooked to using steroids to boost performance during school or college sport competitions. In the US, a recent national survey estimated that only about nine percent of all schools conduct any drug tests for steroids. Studies are ongoing to ascertain if this sort of testing is effective in reducing the incidence of drug abuse.
Research has clearly shown that telling students only about steroids’ negative effects don’t prevent abuse, rather presenting both risks and benefits accrued after using steroids is more convincing to adolescents. Apparently, researchers agree that students find credence on a balanced analytical approach to steroid addiction.

Steroid addiction has not been fully studied and much remains in the dark. But the few studies on steroid addiction have propounded several treatments for instances of anabolic steroid abuse. Addicts are not condemned to death, but have a chance to rid their systems of the addictive craving. Most of the current body of knowledge in steroid addiction is based on the clinical experiences of few physicians with formerly addicted patients, most of whom are undergoing steroid withdrawal symptoms. The physicians postulate that supportive therapy by itself is sufficient especially in mild cases of addiction. This is where patients learn what to expect during withdrawal and how to conquer suicidal thoughts.

However, if withdrawal symptoms are very severe and long lived, strict medications and even hospitalization is required. Common medications for treating steroid withdrawal aim at restoring normalcy to the body’s hormonal levels after the disruption caused by steroid abuse. Other patients require adequate assistance that goes beyond mere pharmacological treatments to a treatment synchronized with behavioral therapies.