Nonprescription Steroids on the Internet / Christen L. McDonald, Douglas B. Marlowe, Nicholas S. Patapis, David S. Festinger, Robert F. Forman. - (Substance Use & Misuse 47 (2012) 3 (February) ; p. 329-341)
- DOI: 10.3109/10826084.2011.630225
- PMCID: PMC3252473
- NIHMSID: NIHMS71337
- PMID: 22080724
Abstract
This study evaluated the degree to which anabolic-androgenic steroids are proffered for sale over the Internet and how they are characterized on popular websites. Searches for specific steroid product labels (e.g., Dianabol) between March and June, 2006 revealed that approximately half of the websites advocated their “safe” use, and roughly one-third offered to sell them without prescriptions. The websites frequently presented misinformation about steroids and minimized their dangers. Less than 5% of the websites presented accurate health risk information about steroids or provided information to abusers seeking to discontinue their steroid use. Implications for education, prevention, treatment and policy are discussed.
