Understanding Substance Use
Health is a state of total well-being—physical, mental and social—helping us both survive and thrive in our everyday lives.
Learn About Steroids
Steroids were first developed in the 1930s to treat a male growth problem that affected physical development and sexual functioning. Today they are still prescribed for certain health conditions. Steroids are also used for non-medical reasons. Some bodybuilders use steroids to increase their muscle mass and strength, and some athletes use the drugs believing they will improve their physical performance.
The Language We Use to Talk About Mental Health and Substance Use
Words matter. They impact the assumptions we make about others, the way we understand someone else’s experiences, and the value we place on others.
Steroids
Steroids or, more precisely, androgenic anabolic steroids, are a class of drugs similar to the male hormone testosterone. These drugs have muscle-building (anabolic), masculinizing (androgenic) and mind-altering (psychoactive) effects. Steroids are manufactured by pharmaceutical companies. The drugs are also produced in uncontrolled laboratories.
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Treatments: What Works?
It seems like everyone has an opinion when it comes to treatments for mental health or substance use problems. To add to the confusion, it isn’t always obvious who is basing their opinions on real evidence and who is not. And while we often hear people talk about evidence-based treatments, it’s also clear that complementary and alternative medicine approaches are helpful for some.
Learn About Steroids Reference List
The list below provides the references to the research studies discussed in Learn About Steroids.
Finding the Right Help - Navigating the System
While it's common to talk about the mental health system, the system isn’t a singular entity. The system might include primary care, mental health, substance use, housing, income assistance, and justice. They are not always accessed the same way, through similar gatekeepers.
Recovery
When we talk about mental illnesses and substance use problems, it’s easy to talk in clinical terms: that person has this symptom, or that person uses a certain drug. But recovery is so much bigger than a checklist.
Steroids
Steroids are a group of different substances that improve physical performance. While they can be used to treat different medical conditions, they can also be used by people who want to increase their athletic abilities.
