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Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport 12 (2009) e1–e2

Editorial

Are anabolic-androgenic steroid users polysubstance users?

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eywords: Steroids; Anabolic-androgenic steroids; Australia; Internet

Engaging in physical activity may be a protective factorgainst illicit substance use, with the literature suggesting aurvilinear link between illicit substance use and sports par-icipation. Illicit substance use has been found to be one ofrange of risk factors for future anabolic-androgenic steroid

AAS) use.1 What remains unclear, however, is whether pastr current AAS users engage in higher levels of illicit sub-tance use than their non-AAS using counterparts. Whileome studies have found no difference regarding illicit sub-tance use among AAS users and non-users,2 others haveound high rates of illicit substance use among AAS users;3

owever, it has been suggested that rates of illicit substancese among AAS users may be explained by other factors suchs sexual orientation.4

Men recruited from five gymnasiums in Sydney, Australia,ere invited to complete an Internet-based survey between

anuary and June 2005. Participants were asked to completebrief survey asking about the past six-month use of both

llicit substances and supplements/conditioning aids. A totalf 229 men completed the survey; of these, 7.0% (n = 16)eported current or past AAS use. For the purposes of com-arison, a random sample of non-AAS users (n = 20) wasenerated from the remaining non-AAS using participants.ue to ethical restraints, no individually identifiable infor-ation was collected as part of the survey. The IP address

rom the computer submitting information to the server host-ng the survey, by normal course of operation, was collected,hough this was not collected in the dataset with the surveyesponses and therefore could not be linked back to individ-al responses. The study was approved by the University ofydney Human Research Ethics Committee.

The AAS users were slightly older than the non-AAS usersmean age 35 years vs. 31 years); however, this difference wasot significant (t34 = −2.0; p = 0.056). AAS users were lessikely to identify as heterosexual (19% vs. 55%; OR = 0.2;

440-2440/$ – see front matter © 2008 Sports Medicine Australia. Published by Eloi:10.1016/j.jsams.2008.10.004

5% CI = 0.04, 0.9; p = 0.027). Few differences were foundegarding substance use among the two groups. The AASsers were more likely to report past six-month use of proteinupplements (100% vs. 65%; OR = 1.7, 95% CI = 1.5, 1.9;= 0.008), growth hormones (31% vs. 0%; OR = 1.5; 95%I = 1.1, 2.0; p = 0.007) and natural testosterone releasers

25% vs. 0%; OR = 1.3; 95% CI = 1.1, 1.8; p = 0.018). Noignificant difference was found between the two groupsegarding past six-month use of illicit substances.

The physical and psychological risks of AAS are wellocumented.5 While AAS use in the general population isow, sporting pursuits such as weightlifting and bodybuildingay place those who engage in these activities at risk for

uture AAS use. Research is needed to identify the role thatubstance use, in particular sporting supplements, may haven facilitating AAS use.

cknowledgments

This work was conducted as part of the doctoral studies ofhe author at the University of Sydney. The author is now affil-ated with the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre athe University of New South Wales, Australia. No financialssistance was given for this study.

eferences

1. Bahrke MS, Yesalis CE, Kopstein AN, et al. Risk factors associatedwith anabolic-androgenic steroid use among adolescents. Sports Med2000;29(6):397–405.

2. Brower KJ, Blow FC, Hill EM. Risk factors for anabolic-androgenicsteroid use in men. J Psychiatr Res 1994;28(4):369–80.

3. Larance B., Degenhardt L., Dillon P., et al. Rapid assessment of per-formance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) in New South Wales:Feasibility study 2005. NDARC Technical Report No. 239. Sydney:

sevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

e nd Med

Matthew DunnDepartment of Behavioural and Community Health

2 Editorial / Journal of Science a

National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, University of New SouthWales; 2005.

4. Peters R, Copeland J, Dillon P. Anabolic-androgenic steroids: Usercharacteristics, motivations, and deterrents. Psychol Addict Behav1999;13(3):232–42.

5. Yesalis CE, Bahrke MS. Anabolic-androgenic steroids: Current issues.Sports Med 1995;19(5):326–40.

icine in Sport 12 (2009) e1–e2

Sciences, University of Sydney, AustraliaE-mail address: M.Dunn@unsw.edu.au