NCJ Number
120374
Date Published
1987
Length
78 pages
Annotation
This 1-day educational conference examined the use and abuse of anabolic steroids, criminal penalties for steroid abuse, and whether testing for steroids should be considered at all levels of competitive sports.
Abstract
While anabolic steroids have widely accepted medical uses, such as treating certain types of anemia and stimulating sexual development in hypogonadal males, the use of steroids to enhance athletic performance is of concern. Medical dangers inherent in the use of steroids range from cosmetic ones such as acne to liver tumors and heart disease. Currently, most States treat anabolic steroid sale as a misdemeanor, and some States do not require any license to operate as a wholesaler of these drugs. The Director of the Drug Control Division of Connecticut's Department of Consumer Protection recommends that the criminal penalty for distributing steroids be increased from a misdemeanor to a felony and that wholesalers of the drugs be licensed by the respective States in which they operate. Conference presentations focus on the black market for anabolic steroids, natural and adverse effects of steroids, drug costs, education to prevent steroid abuse, reasons for steroid use, what constitutes steroid abuse, and the effect of steroids on performance. Particular attention is paid to the use of steroids in sports and to the detection, testing, and prevention of steroid abuse. State laws governing the prescription and distribution of anabolic steroids, the role of the Food and Drug Administration in regulating anabolic steroids, and revised criminal offenses for steroid abuse are also discussed. 27 references, 1 figure, 7 tables.