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Nonprescription steroids on the Internet
Christen L Clement1, Douglas B Marlowe, Nicholas S Patapis
1Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19106, USA. cmcdonald@tresearch.org
Substance Use & Misuse
|November 15, 2011
Summary
Many websites promote anabolic-androgenic steroids as safe and sell them without prescriptions, often providing misinformation and downplaying dangers. Accurate health information and resources for cessation are rarely available online.
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
- Internet Studies
Background:
- Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are performance-enhancing drugs with significant health risks.
- The internet has become a prevalent channel for the sale and promotion of various substances, including AAS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the online availability and marketing of AAS.
- To analyze the information provided on websites selling AAS regarding their safety and risks.
Main Methods:
- Searched popular websites for specific AAS product labels (e.g., Dianabol) between March and June 2006.
- Evaluated website content for claims about safety, prescription requirements, and health risk information.
Main Results:
- Approximately 50% of websites promoted "safe" AAS use.
- Around 33% offered AAS for sale without requiring a prescription.
- Websites frequently contained misinformation, minimized AAS dangers, and rarely provided accurate health risk data or cessation resources.
Conclusions:
- Online platforms often misrepresent AAS, posing risks to users.
- There is a critical need for improved online health information, education, and prevention strategies regarding AAS.
- Policy interventions may be necessary to address the unsafe online marketing of AAS.
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