Anabolic Steroid Usage, Prices and Effects

Anabolic steroids are a group of compounds which mimic sex and growth hormones in the body. They are typically used without prescription by athletes and bodybuilders in order to build up muscle mass and reduce the fatigue involved in training regimes. There are around 500 steroidal substances identified in mammals, with 5 major groups distinguished by physiological action, these are glucocorticoids, mineralocorticoids, androgens, oestrogens and progestins. The classical sex steroid is testosterone, which has many derivatives, all of which are to a greater or lesser extent effective as androgens (masculinising) and anabolics (tissue-building), without separation of these two discrete effects, with the result that the class is known as anabolic-androgenic steroids. These promote tissue growth by reducing the breakdown of protein, particularly following exercise.

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UK Drug Price Trends (1994-2008)