We see it over and over, repeated by the media, politicians, the public and our children, Steroids are BAD FOR YOU!! I think its time to stop lying about steroids and demand to be told the truth, demand the studies not being undertaken to be undertaken, and demand the evidence that has not been in evidence, to be produced.

After the recent introduction of graphic health warning labels being added to cigarette packets, we observed the following data on packets being sold:

Causes of Death in Australia

Tobacco - 19,019
Alchohol - 2,831
Motor Vehicle Accidents - 1,731
Illegal Drugs - 863 (the steroid catagory - of the 863 deaths, 0 are related to steroids)
Murders - 203

In a study conducted on drug use in Australia for the year 1997 http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/health/sdua98/sdua98-c08.pdf we can see data which shows us that:

Of the 23,000 deaths related to drug use for that year, Zero (0) deaths occurred due to Anabolic Steroid use and of the 257,000 hospital admissions, Zero (0) were attributed to Anabolic Steroids.

It can also been seen in the same study that drugs which were thought to cause the most deaths in Australia were in the following Descending order (highest death rates to lowest) Tobacco, Alchohol, Narcotics, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Prescribed and Cannabis. Anabolic Steroids once again didnt even register as a problem.

While evidence does exist pointing to liver damage, weight gain, acne, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, balding, temporary infertility and temporary testicular atrophy, clitoral growth, hair growth, mascularizing effects, increased aggression and prostate growth these affects when compared to alchohol (extreme aggression, liver damage, weight gain, high blood pressure, high cholesterol), and cigarettes (weight loss, ephysema, heart desease, high blood pressure, cancer, ...) is somewhat laughable, with most of the side effects of Anabolic steroids being avoidable or and reversable.

One of the most effective ways to lose the trust of our children is to lie to them. I think thats what we are doing and I think we need to start telling the truth about Anabolic Steroids. What do you think?

I think advocating the use of any drug is pretty stupid, even prescription drugs except as the last resort.

The last resort to what?

Why drug use stupid if its not harmful or the benefits of its use outweigh the negative effects (contraceptive pills, vaccinations, caffeine, Viagra, HRT for menopausal women, anti-pyschotics, anti-depressants / anxiety drugs, pain relievers, ...).

The lists of drugs we use on a regular basis, the use of which has vastly extended our lives or otherwise improved our quality of life is huge and to suggest that we should abandon all drug use is suggesting a significant step backwards into an historically painful, desease riddled world of half lived lives (in comparison to todays developed societies).

I think it is this sort of thinking (or perhaps more aptly put non-thinking) that is driving the prohibition of anabolic steroids.

You forgot the other side effects. Things like thinning of the bones later in life, possible mental aggression and possible carcinogens.

People who use steroids or growth hormones are more likely to get osteoporosis at an early life. So they could end up having walking frames by 40-50 years of age. Good one mate!

We don't know all the side effects yet.

Quite frankly, I think we should stop playing with steroids for the sake of vanity, pressure in sport or peer pressure. If sport has come to this, then sport no longer has a right to claim to be healthy.

If modelling has come to this, then the models are no role models at all.

If you think that children understand the possible long-term effects, then you are living in a fool’s paradise. I got osteoporosis through other medications and I am on the verge of suing the drug companies for an unwanted side effect, it is manageable but not irreversible.

This is not good enough.

We don't know enough about this yet.

Zygote, steroids are available by prescription for those that need them. I can't ever recall a campaign saying steroids will do anything other than the things you mentioned, liver damage etc. So where are we lying

Saintfletcher, sports is hardly 'good for you' in its totality. During 2002-2003 there were 45,452 hospitalizations related to sports. Once again in that same year there were zero (0) hospitalizations related to steroid use. The number of non-hospitalization injuries number in the hundreds of thousands each year.

We see our elite professions at 35 years of age, telling us that they regularly take glucosamine because of joint pain due to their time as sportsmen. We will continue to see these people push painkillers and anti-arthritic drugs as they age and the damage sustained continues to debilitate them. And we will see them overseas, in the US, attending 'anti-aging clinics' to seek relief and youth in the form of anabolic steroids.

In 2003 - 2004 there were 16 cases of paraplegia / tetraplegia directly related to sports injuries, the majority from Rugby League tackles. There is not a single case ever reported due to the result of anabolic steroid use. Yet we ban anabolic steroids and not tackling?

Rojo,

I'll let a professional explain - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0LEj8IPHGU

This is about the stupidest debate, according to your logic if it takes 1 man 10 hours to shovel 10 tonnes of sand, it will take 10 men 1 hour to shovel 10 tonnes of sand, and therefore if it takes 1 man 10 hours to swim 10 km's, it will take 10 men 1 hour to swim 10 km's STUPID ?
I said "drugs as last resort", my mother died as a result of overdose of prescription drugs, so don't give me non-thinking crap, I have had over 30 years to think about it, so the last thing I or anybody else needs is some dipstick advocating drugs for children.
You are a total W@ANKER.

Hmm my sister hung herself at 30 years of age, she was manic depressive, my step father died of lung cancer and I had a friend run over by a car when he was 12. So what?

None of this emotional baggage lends credibility to an opinion, its simply included to try to gain leverage ie. dont argue with my POV because Im a victim. Please dont try that with me as it will not work. Likewise profanity, namecalling or other childish emotional outbursts will also fail.

Also I am not advocating that children use anabolic steroids, in fact, my opinion would be that they DO NOT use them at least until they have completed all or at least most of their natural adult development.

The issue I am raising here is an old one, it is that when we lie to our children about the dangers of X, and then they find out that we lied, then they will dismiss not only the dangers of X, but also the dangers of Y, Z, .. and so forth.

Additionally, by not educating our children with the real information, when they do decide to use these substances (and many will), they may due to lack of knowledge and lack of guidance (embarrassment to attend a doctor for advice) make mistakes and possibly through this lack of knowledge cause serious harm to themselves.

Thanks

Zygote,

I am glad you have raised the issue. It is about time.

Firstly, your key issue is something that should be considered. False or misleading information can backfire.

Steroids are used by many people and rare side effects are barely relevant. Nor is every user some type of roid rager or using the shovel method - most cycle and try to avoid side effects as much as possible. Many people preach about shrinking testicles to scare men but say nothing about overgrowth of the penis. Wouldn't anyone who even gets dressed in a locker room with a steroid user be quickly disillusioned?

Realistically the biggest risk steroid users face after walking away from their last cycle is bitch tits and an overenlarged penis and some left over acne that will soon heal. They aren't all dropping dead on the street and most even try to avoid bitch tits.

Steriods are simply artificial analogues of male hormones not crack cocaine.

People should get genuine information with no misleading about the side effects. They should then choose to not use the drugs. (Not a prediction just what I think is the better choice. Personally I like Mr Universe Steve Reeve's quote "If a man hasn't got enough testosterone to build the kind of body he wants he should stick to something less strenuous - like maybe ping pong". I disapprove of steroid use but hate the bs) However if people choose to use them at least it can occur as sensibly and safely as possible. Again this requires accurate information.