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Let's pull apart the Sun's latest silly anti steroids story. You'll notice they have used a picture of a tub of homeopathic growth hormone capsules rather than a shot of real injectable growth hormone so they are off to a great error filled start.
I'm just going to discuss the dumbest 15 points they tried to make in their steroids story.
1. 20-40% of gym users have used steroids.
99% of steroid users have the common sense to deny using steroids to civilians ( non-users ). The small percentage who would admit to a journalist that they use steroids are not going to be the smartest steroid users out there.
2. Anabolic steroids are a Class C drug, which users inject or take as tablets, but are illegal to own and use unless with a medical prescription.
Real pharmacutical versions of anabolic steroids are perfectly legal to both possess and import in small quantities. (In the UK)
3. They make the body over-produce testosterone, so increasing muscle size and strength in a matter of weeks.
Anabolic and androgenic steroids normally make the body produce less testosterone. You could however argue that associated drugs like Clomid and HCG do make the body produce more testosterone.If they really worked that well and quickly then why do most bodybulders need to run them for years to get close to their ideal physique.
4. For many young men they are seen as the only way to achieve the same body as their sporting or screen idols.
Sadly for most people this is true. The only ones disputing it are the media and the companies who make a huge profit from selling steroid alternatives, supplements, books and other products that don't really work.
5. "I do a lot of work with needle-exchange services, run by Addaction, the UK's biggest drug-treatment charity, and half of the needles now requested are steroid packs - which is a huge increase.
This just goes to show what a health conscious bunch we steroid users are.
6. Even when used for legitimate medical reasons they cause what is known as Mood Disorder, which can be depression or anger."
Of course he fails to mention that in the 60s and 70s steroids were used as anti-depressants and that the majority of steroids users report feeling far happier when on than off.
7. "We also have a young people's service that goes into schools, and kids around the age of 12 are aware of these drugs. A colleague of mine came across a child of 12 who wanted to take steroids."
They are of course only aware of steroids because of stupid stories in the media like this one :-)
8. He said: "I went from 13 stone to 16 stone. I was too big to move.
Keep dreaming, there are plenty of bodybuilders and regular joes way heavier than that who can move just fine.
9. "I literally went mad. My wife left me and I lost my job."
So that means we are reading the opinion of a mad man and should therefore ignore everything you have said ?
10. His hands grew so that he looked like he was suffering from giantism.
Seems odd then that most of the world's top bodybuilders manage to keep their hands looking normal. Obviously they use a lot less HGH than this guy.
11. "Afterwards my mate tried to commit suicide by overdosing on steroids but luckily he was saved."
Aside from choking on the actual steroid tablets or injecting a large volume of an oil based injectable steroid directly into a vein killing yourself with steroids is nigh on impossible. In fact I would assume that if you went to your local accident and emergency department and told them you had accidentally eaten a hundred tabs of Dianabol they wouldn't even bother to pump your stomach.
12. They raise blood pressure and cholesterol to levels which can seriously damage the liver and even cause death by heart attack.
There's no doubting that steroids can raise blood pressure but this can be monitored and controlled through the use of blood pressure lowering medications. Damage to the liver is in most cases temporary and liver function will return to normal once steroid use ends. Steroids do lower good cholesterol levels which is considered a risk factor for heart problems.
13. Dr Checinski says: "Having dealt with a number of steroid users over the years, I would say the steroids are as bad for the liver as alcohol.
I would argue that alcohol does more damage than oral steroids. Many steroid users avoid the use of oral steroids all together to ensure their livers are in perfect health.
14. "They don't increase strength as much as size, with users looking big but not necessarily becoming stronger. But people with low self-esteem, or who feel pressure to have a strong physique, are most likely to use them."
The truth is most steroid users see increases in strength long before they notice any increases in muscle size.
15. When men stop taking steroids they can also develop "moobs" - or man boobs.
In the old days most people who did develop moobs did so while on cycle. These days, thanks to the internet, advice on controlling estrogen levels whilst on cycle is easily available as are the products needed to do so such as antiestrogens and aromatase inhibitors.
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