Anabolic/androgenic steroids are drugs that are obtained from the male hormone,
testosterone. Anabolic steroids are used for muscle-building and strength gain
for cosmetic reasons as well as for performance-enhancement in athletics and bodybuilding. Anabolic steroids work in many ways by increasing
protein synthesis
Protein biosynthesis (or protein synthesis) is a core biological process, occurring inside Cell (biology), cells, homeostasis, balancing the loss of cellular proteins (via Proteolysis, degradation or Protein targeting, export) through the product ...
in the muscles and by eliminating the catabolic process (the process of breaking down skeletal muscle for energy). It is common for teens and adults to use steroids as they stimulate and encourage muscle growth much more rapidly than natural body building.
Statistics
In Australia, many people are encouraged to use steroids due to the body image expectations created by society. In secondary schools, 3.2% of boys and 1.2% of girls are using steroids. Many Australian
bodybuilders
Bodybuilding is the use of progressive resistance exercise to control and develop one's muscles (muscle building) by muscle hypertrophy for aesthetic purposes. It is distinct from similar activities such as powerlifting because it focuses ...
visit
Bangkok and
Pattaya
Pattaya ( th, พัทยา, , ) is a city in Thailand. It is on the east coast of the Gulf of Thailand, about southeast of Bangkok, within, but not part of, Bang Lamung district in the province of Chonburi province, Chonburi. Pattaya City ( ...
in Thailand because the
pharmacies there sell some steroid brands ten times cheaper than they available on the Australian black market. Australians were also purchasing their steroids in other countries to avoid a possible criminal record at home.
Australian Crime Commission statistics have shown that there was a 106% increase in the last financial year of "performance and image-enhancing-drugs", showing 5,561 border detections.
Notable events
In the first 3 months of 2008, 300 AAS seizures were reported by the
Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
See also
*
Drugs in sport in Australia
References
Drugs in Australia
Anabolic–androgenic steroids
{{drug-stub