Long lasting aggression triggered by steroids in teens

Steroids can bring a lasting effect on brains of teenagers, as per a U.S. Study. The study also brought forward the fact that steroids can even go to the extent of flipping an adolescent brain's switch for aggression, which can last for at least two years.

It was remarked by the study researchers that anabolic steroids can result in permanent changes to the human brain though some experts are of the view that it is almost impossible to accurately ascertain the length of such an effect in humans.

From News-Medical.Net:

Neuroscientists are deeply concerned about the rising adolescent abuse of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AASs), given the National Institute on Drug Abuse's estimate that nearly half a million 8th to 10th-grade students abuse AASs each year.
Not only do steroids set kids up for heavier use of steroids and other drugs later in life, it is known that long-term steroid use can cause mood swings, hallucinations and paranoia, liver damage and Hypertension, high blood pressure, as well as increased risk of heart disease, stroke and some types of cancer.
Coming off steroids can also lead to depression.
The researchers at Northeastern University, Boston, examined the behaviour of adolescent hamsters when another hamster was put into their cage.
It seems that hamsters naturally defend their territory by play-fighting, wrestling and nibbling, but hamsters injected with commonly used steroids, which were suspended in oil, became extremely aggressive.
According to the researchers even after the drug was withdrawn, the newly vicious hamsters attacked, bit and chased the intruders, and the level of aggressiveness was 10 times greater than that of other hamsters which were only injected with oil.

Dr Richard Melloni, who led the research, remarked that steroids can bring a change in the trajectory if they are administered during development. He also said that people who are making use of such drugs need to consider the long-term health complications along with the severe potential for violence and aggression.