What are they? Stimulants.

What are the different types? Anabolic steroids, stimulants, beta-2 agonists, erythropoietin (EPO), growth hormones, glucocorticoids, narcotics, diuretics, and blood doping (withdrawing a person's blood and reinfusing it later).

Also called… Juice, roids, doping, gym candy, stacks, gear, sauce.

What do they look like? Capsules, liquids, gels, powders, or tablets.

How are they used? Taken orally, nasally, rectally, or by intramuscular injection.

Someone might choose to use steroids or performance-enhancing substances to…

• improve respiratory performance

• increase muscle mass, strength, body weight, aggression, motivation, and physical endurance

• improve concentration

• recover more quickly after training

• reduce feelings of fatigue

However, steroids and performance-enhancing substances can cause a variety of unwanted effects, including:

• increased heart rate

• severe acne

• increased risk of ulcers

• stunted growth

• osteoarthritis

• constipation

• abnormal growth of long bones (feet and skeletal deformities)

• diabetes

• muscle and joint pain, including tendon rupture

• dehydration

• embolisms

• high blood pressure and high blood sugar

• localized and systemic infections

• jaundice

• headaches

• edema (swelling caused by fluid retention)

• disruption of thyroid function

• delayed wound healing

• flu-like symptoms, including severe fatigue, fever, and chills

• cardiovascular problems such as arrhythmias, increased risk of arteriosclerosis, thromboembolic disorders, heart attack, stroke and hypertension

• mental and neurological effects such as anxiety, irritability, aggression, mood disorders, insomnia, nightmares, depression, suicidal thoughts, confusion, hallucinations, schizophrenia, and other psychotic disorders

• tremors and dizziness

• In people assigned female at birth, steroids may cause: excessive body hair growth, deepening of the voice, hair loss, breast and uterine atrophy, enlargement of the clitoris, irregular menstrual cycles, absence of menstruation, early menopause

• In people assigned male at birth, steroids may cause: breast development (gynecomastia), testicular atrophy, reduced libido, decreased fertility, erectile dysfunction

• In the event of an overdose: chronic fatigue, cardiovascular failure that can lead to death