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23 March 2006
Steroid Use Can Affect Teens Years Later 
Anabolic steroid use in teenagers may have a long-term impact on their brains, suggests a new study from Northeastern University. The researchers say that the drugs can cause aggression - 'roid rage - to last for years after quitting the drugs. The findings, published in the journal Behavioral Neuroscience, were based on a study of the behavior of hamsters while on steroids and then after withdrawal. Researcher Richard Melloni Jr. discovered that hamsters showing levels of tame play-fighting similar to human teenagers became aggressive when injected with steroids. Surprisingly, the aggression lasted for long periods after the drug use was stopped, leading the researchers to hypothesize that teens who use steroids may grow into adults with behavioral problems. "Steroids step on the gas for aggression by enhancing the activity of brain areas that induce aggression," said Melloni. "Some of the effects may wear off after withdrawal, but aggressive behavior won't stop immediately, leaving them to be a danger to themselves and others."
Other findings from the study point to permanent changes in the brain caused by steroid use. Autopsies performed on the hamsters that went through withdrawal revealed inner changes in their brains. The brain is particularly vulnerable during the teenage years, said Melloni. "There is a critical developmental period for the brain during teenage life, when drug use can result in permanent damage," he explained. "We're finding for instance, that serotonin levels, which play a part in depression, may be altered forever." It's estimated that half-a-million teenagers abuse anabolic-androgenic steroids annually. "We hope teenagers realize that achieving excessive muscle mass and unrealistic athletic achievements are not worth the damage steroids can cause," Melloni concluded. Source: Northeastern University
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