Anabolic Steroid Use in Canada: Benefits, Side Effects and the Law.

With the rise of social media and sites like YouTube and Instagram, Canadian men, like their counterparts all over the world, are becoming increasingly focused on body image.

In order to gain an advantage in the gym, many young men are turning to steroids to pack on greater muscle mass in shorter periods of time.

If you’re considering taking anabolic steroids to increase your muscle gains, read on for a quick primer on the background, advantages, side effects and legality of these performance enhancing drugs:

What are Steroids?

In simple terms, steroids are man-made chemicals that mimic various hormones found throughout the human body.

The word “steroid” is a catch-all term, and different types of steroids are routinely prescribed by doctors to achieve various medical outcomes:

The most popular group of steroids, called corticosteroids, are regularly prescribed to treat inflammation, whilst another group, anabolic-androgenic steroids, are used to treat anaemia and low testosterone in men.

When bodybuilders and athletes take steroids as a method of building muscle, they are taking anabolic-androgenic steroids. “Anabolic” refers to the steroid’s muscle building properties, and “androgenic” refers to the increased male sex hormone response.

There are many types, brand names and combinations of these drugs, but for short, they are usually referred to as “anabolic steroids” or simply “steroids” by users.

A Brief History

Before the term “steroid” was in use, scientists in the 1930s managed to create a synthetic version of testosterone to help men suffering from growth and developmental problems.

The same basic formula would go on to be used as a method of helping malnourished soldiers regain strength during World War Two.

Once the war ended, use of synthetic testosterone began to emerge in athletics, and after quickly gaining popularity, became so widespread that the drug had to be banned by the Olympic Committee in 1975.

By the mid 1980s, bodybuilders and other recreational users were purchasing vast amounts of steroids on the black market, and by 1988, the USA had added anabolic steroids to its Anti-Drug Abuse Act. Many other western countries followed suit.

Are Steroids Legal in Canada?

• Steroids in Canada are illegal Under the Controlled Drugs and Substances Act.
• Importation of steroids carries a maximum penalty of three years in prison.
• Possessing steroids for personal use carries no criminal penalty.
• Due to their illegality, purchasing steroids from a dealer involves a level of uncertainty, and therefore carries risks beyond the general side effects of the drugs themselves.
• Steroid use is forbidden by nearly all sporting authorities

Muscle Building Benefits

Despite the risks involved, many athletes and bodybuilders are willing to use steroids because of the performance advantages they confer.

It’s widely known that steroid users are able to build greater overall muscle mass in much shorter periods of time compared to their “natural” counterparts.

For instance, in one of many studies, in this case dating back to 1996, four groups of bodybuilders were analyzed before and after a ten week weight training program:

• Group 1: Weight training and steroid injections
• Group 2: Weight training, no steroid injections
• Group 3: No training and steroid injections
• Group 4: No training and no steroid injections

Unsurprisingly, the group that didn’t lift weights and didn’t take steroids showed zero changes after ten weeks. The group that trained hard but didn’t take steroids showed an average increase in lean muscle mass of 4.5 pounds.

However, the two groups that took steroids showed very impressive results: The group that lifted weights and took steroids for ten weeks, showed gains in lean muscle mass of over 13 pounds.

Even more impressively, the group that took steroids and didn’t lift weights at all still gained 6 pounds of lean muscle mass in ten weeks, beating the natural bodybuilders by 33% despite doing no exercise whatsoever!

/(Study: The effects of supraphysiologic doses of testosterone on muscle size and strength in normal men. 1996; N Engl J Med: 335:1-7) /

Risks and Side Effects

Whilst the advantages of steroids appear tempting, it would be irresponsible not to mention the possible side effects, of which there are many:

Use of anabolic steroids can lead to heart attacks, blood clots and strokes, as well as general high blood pressure. In addition, steroids are capable of inducing hair loss, shrinking of the testicles, bad skin and mood swings.

Steroids are administered by needle, so careless application carries an additional risk of hepatitis and other blood related infections, including HIV.

Conclusion:

Anabolic steroids can give impressive gains in lean muscle mass when paired with proper nutrition and a well devised weight training program.

With that being said, use of anabolic steroids in Canada is illegal and could cause serious side effects. Always consult with a medical practitioner before taking drugs or medications of any kind.

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