Study Links Social Media to Steroid Use Intentions

- The study surveyed over 1,500 boys and men in Canada and the United States who had never used anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). It found that time spent on social media was significantly associated with stronger intentions to use AAS, more so than other screen-based activities like watching videos or browsing the web. - The specific *type* of online engagement, rather than just total screen time, was a stronger predictor of intent. Frequent viewing of muscular male bodies and content promoting muscle-building drugs showed the strongest association with the intention to use steroids. - Frequently comparing one's own body to those seen on social media was also linked to higher intentions to use steroids, potentially worsening body dissatisfaction and the internalization of unrealistic muscular ideals. - Anabolic steroid use disrupts the body's normal hormone production and can lead to irreversible side effects in men, including shrunken testicles, reduced sperm count, male-pattern baldness, and breast development (gynecomastia). - Serious cardiovascular health risks are associated with steroid misuse, including increased levels of "bad" cholesterol (LDL), high blood pressure, blood clots, and an enlarged heart muscle, all of which elevate the risk of heart attack and stroke. - In Australia, non-medical use of anabolic steroids nearly tripled in the 18 years between 2001 and 2019, with the majority of users being males aged 20-24. - The rise in male body dissatisfaction has been significant, with one Australian report noting the rate tripled to 45% over the last 25 years, a trend linked to the promotion of unattainable body images on social media. - While it is legal to possess anabolic steroids for personal use in some regions like the UK, it is illegal to supply or sell them, with penalties that can include unlimited fines and prison sentences of up to 14 years.