The Use and Abuse of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids In a world of increasingly competitive sports, many college and professional athletes are testing positive for illicit drug abuse that improve performance. A common drug used is known as anabolic androgenic steroid. The correct use of AAS when administered by health officials can help people with certain health conditions and hormone deficiencies. When an individual takes higher levels of AAS than the body can naturally require, serious physical and psychological side effects can occur. In this research paper I will explain the short and long term effects on the body of abusing this steroid. Steroids occur naturally in our body. The main anabolic steroid present in our body is testosterone. (1) AAS is synthetically derived from testosterone. (3) Testosterone is the primary sex hormone in males and is responsible for growth effects during the male adolescent years and later years of adulthood. Nearly every cell in the body has proteins that act as receptors for AAS. Therefore the anabolic and androgenic response in the body is determined by the location and type of the cells and the nature of the steroid. (7) This hormone has two main effects on the body. The anabolic effect promotes muscle growth by increasing the rate of protein synthesis within each cell. The androgenic effects of testosterone are primarily responsible for masculine traits such as deepening of the voice and growth of facial hair. (1) AAS were originally designed to provide enhanced tissue building and protein synthesis capabilities with minimal masculinizing effects. There are nearly 60 distinctive AAS available that are all slightly different in their type of acne lesions. These contain larger amounts of skin lipids such as free fatty acids and cholesterol. Heart problems, liver tumors, high blood pressure, and decreased libido are also physical side effects. Some psychological side effects in men and women include severe depression and mood swings, mania, and hypomania (experiencing an extremely high, even euphoric state, then conversely experiencing an extremely depressed or depressed state, similar to bipolar disorder).( 6) Users can also become addicted to the substance.(1)The effects are clear. While temporary improvements in muscle mass and overall athletic ability may be an effect of AAS abuse, it is not a worthwhile endeavor. While these hormones can be very useful for improving the quality of health in some very specific cases, the abuse of such substances can cause serious physical and psychological harm.