Mixing Steroids and Cocaine: What Are the Risks?

Steroids are substances that are naturally produced in the body or artificially manufactured.

There are two different types of naturally occurring steroids: anabolic and catabolic.

Anabolic steroids are derived from male hormones and help to build bone tissue, muscle tissue, and other tissues in the body. Catabolic steroids, or glucocorticoids, are produced as a response to stress, and they break down and metabolize substances in the body. Examples of artificially produced catabolic steroids include hydrocortisone and prednisone. These steroids are not abused as often as anabolic steroids.

The central nervous stimulant cocaine (benzoylmethylecgonine) is a well-known drug of abuse that is manufactured from the leaves of the coca plant. Cocaine does have some medicinal uses in the United States but is more familiar as a drug of abuse. It is abused in a number of different ways, such as via injection, snorting it (e.g., powder cocaine), and smoking it (e.g., crack cocaine).

Abuse Issues

Both anabolic steroids and cocaine are drugs of abuse. Most anabolic steroids are classified by the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) as Schedule III controlled substances, whereas cocaine is classified as a Schedule II controlled substance. This classification indicates that steroids are considered to have more appropriate medicinal uses and less prone to abuse than cocaine; however, both drugs have a significant potential for abuse and for the development of physical or psychological dependence.

According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), it is estimated that in 2015 approximately 1.9 million people over the age of 12 were users of cocaine. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that in 2015 approximately 3.5 percent of individuals in high school reported using anabolic steroids without having a prescription for them, which represents an estimate of about 500,000 individuals. The United States Justice Department estimates that a little over 1 million adults over the age of 18 use anabolic steroids without a prescription. Individuals who misuse or abuse anabolic steroids are likely to be male.

People abuse cocaine to experience the stimulant and psychoactive effects of the drug, whereas abuse of anabolic steroids is typically associated with individuals who engage in some form of an athletic endeavor, such as bodybuilding or other sports, who are trying to improve their performance and/or increase their muscle mass while reducing their body fat content.

Mixing Cocaine and Anabolic Steroids

There appears to be little reliable data on the rates of co-occurring cocaine and anabolic steroid use and abuse. However, given that both drugs are abused by similar demographic groups, it can be assumed that the situation does occur to some extent. Information taken from a research article published in the British Journal of Pharmacology as well as the three-volume book set The Neuropathology of Drug Addictions and Substance Misuse indicates that interactions as a result of this combination can include:

• An enhancement of the effects of either drug
• An enhancement of the side effects of either drug
• The increased potential to overdose on either drug, but particularly on cocaine that is most likely related to the psychological and cognitive issues that can occur when these drugs are combined
• The potential to develop idiosyncratic reactions as a result of mixing these two drugs
• Serious effects to several different organ systems
• Serious neurological or psychological complications as a result of mixing these drugs

In particular, the potential harmful effects associated with mixing these drugs could include:

• A rapid and potentially dangerous rise in blood pressure
• Significant cardiovascular damage, with an increased risk of both acute heart damage and long-term issues leading to heart damage
• A significant increase in the risk to have a heart attack or stroke
• An increased potential to become overheated or dehydrated
• Damage to the liver
• Significant damage to the kidneys
• Increased risk of developing blood-borne diseases as a result of needle sharing (e.g., hepatitis, HIV)
• Sexual dysfunction in men and menstrual issues in women
• The development of masculine-like features in women, such as a low speaking voice, increased hair growth on the face, etc.
• An increased risk to develop cancer in numerous organ systems
• An increased potential for psychological reactions, particularly issues with hostility, hallucinations, manic-like behaviors, delusional behaviors (most likely, delusions of being invulnerable, which can lead to poor decision-making), and other issues that can lead to accidents or impulsive behaviors
• Issues with depression, mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, lethargy, increased appetite, irritability, etc., when the individual stops using cocaine and/or the steroid.
• Issues with apathy and depression in many individuals who combine these drugs frequently
• Significant neurological issues that can include the development of seizures (the risk for this is increased if an individual abuses other drugs in conjunction with cocaine, such as alcohol) and brain damage to areas of the brain that have to do with movement, decision-making, judgment, attention, and memory

While the expected symptoms that are associated with discontinuing either of these drugs are not normally considered to be potentially serious or fatal, when an individual uses these drugs in conjunction and later stops using one or both of them, it is difficult to predict how any withdrawal symptoms will present. Certainly, individuals who have pre-existing psychological problems or emotional issues may become very distraught and more vulnerable to accidents or poor judgment that could lead to potential suicidal behaviors. In addition, when individuals begin to experience withdrawal symptoms, they often become desperate to again use their drugs of choice in order to reduce their distress. This can lead to a number of issues with judgment, poor decision-making, and impulsive behaviors.