What is "Roid Rage"

            Roid rage is a term associated with anabolic steroid use to infer violent and aggressive behavior associated with the drug. Generally this is observed as random outbursts of anger far beyond what is deemed approiate in a particular situation. Situations which may be irritating to a non-anabolic steroid user will irritate one who uses anabolics to a far greater degree, resulting in loud outbursts, hostility or violent behavior. With most cases of roid rage, after the violent outburst the individual experiences a “crash” or quick revert to a more subdued state. This cycle often leads to depression and in some cases suicide.

 

Roid rage, in recent times, has been attributed in several prominent murders and brutal attacks. These cases might suggest a person is less responsible for committing a crime due to the effect that the drug has on the individual's mind.

            The use of anabolic steroids is a dangerous practice for many reasons. The person is artificially  placing extra levels of testosterone into their body. This hormone can at first have positive effects on the psyche but can later turn negative. Steroid users at first may feel very happy about themselves. Continued use of steroids may result in much greater mood and behavior changes. With continued use, people may become more aggressive, more angry, lack impulse control or they may began to show symptoms of various forms of mental illness. Illnesses like schizophrenia, mania, and deep depression have been shown to occur in long term steroid users. Anabolic Steroid use is linked not only to roid rage and sudden mood changes, steroids can cause chemical imbalances in your brain. This is thought to be linked to thoughts of suicide or actual suicide.  Steroids can adversely affect a persons health as well as their very well being.