Nonprescription steroids on the Internet.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2012

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 Web sites. Searches for specific steroid product labels (e.g., Dianabol) between March 2006 and June 2006 revealed that approximately half of the Web sites advocated their "safe" use, and roughly one third offered to sell them without prescriptions. The Web sites frequently presented misinformation about steroids and minimized their dangers. Less than 5% of the Web sites 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.

Publication Title

Substance use & misuse

Volume

47

Issue

3

First Page

329

Last Page

341

Comments

This article was published in Substance use & misuse, Volume 47, Issue 3, Pages 329-341.

The published version is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/10826084.2011.630225 .

Copyright © 2012.

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