The government's expert drug advisers are pressing for a ban on online imports o

f anabolic steroids amid growing concern over their use by teenage boys and youn
g men to improve their body image.
The Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) says the ban is needed becaus
e the steroids sold online are often contaminated, out of date, or delivered wit
h the wrong dosage instructions.
This is Bulls**t, if you buy off the right supplier then you don't have these pr
oblems.
If they (the government) legalized anabolic steroids then the gear would be 100%
pharma grade and would also be taxable, I don't say let every tom dick and harr
y have access to them, over 21's only and prescribed by a doctor who knows what
the correct dosage would be for each individual.
The ACMD's chair, Professor Leslie Iversen, said steroids were now much too easi
ly available: "If you search online you will see endless offers. The ACMD is the
lone voice against this tide of promotion on the internet. We think an import b
an would have a considerable dampening effect on demand. It may be difficult to
enforce but it would act as a simple deterrent."
JUST LIKE IT DID IN AMERICA, LOL.
Iversen said steroids were becoming a "big phenomenon" in Britain: "There is no
question that the number using the drug for sporting reasons is now a minority.
The real growth has come in young users who want to improve their body image."
An ACMD report to the home secretary on anabolic steroids published today quotes
the latest figures from the British Crime Survey, estimating that 50,000 people
in the past year have used anabolic steroids for non-medical purposes, such as
bodybuilding. More than 220,000 told the BCS they had used anabolic steroids.
But drug experts say these are probably underestimates of the numbers using anab
olic steroids because many people will not openly admit to using the drugs, even
in an anonymous self-report survey such as the BCS. Some needle and syringe exc
hange programmes for problem drug users have also reported an exponential rise i
n steroid injectors, according to the report.
Iversen said the rising use of anabolic steroids, particularly among young men,
was a worrying development: "While the health-related harms associated with thes
e substances are not as severe as with some other drugs, misuse carries signific
ant risks, particularly for young people whose bodies are still developing. More
needs to be done to tackle the supply of anabolic steroids and to educate peopl
e to the potential dangers."
The report says most of the harmful effects of anabolic steroids are not life-th
reatening and only a small number of deaths have ever been attributed to liver d
amage associated with long-term steroid use. However, it raises distinct concern
s about their use by young people saying they can potentially disrupt the normal
pattern of physical growth and induce masculinising effects in women and childr
en.
Anabolic steroids have been used since the 1950s by bodybuilders and weightlifte
rs to build muscle as well as by elite athletes to improve their performance. Th
e use of steroids is now widely banned by the sporting authorities.
The ACMD says anabolic steroids should remain a class C illegal drug, which can
be bought on prescription from a pharmacist. While it is illegal to import or se
ll steroids for non-medical purposes it is currently legal to possess or import
steroids as long as they are for personal use only.
The drug advisory body says it is now time to make it illegal to order substance
s online from overseas websites and import them by post or courier. Personal pos
session, including bringing them into the country, will however remain legal as
the authorities believe criminalising users would simply push the problem underg
round.
The drugs minister, James Brokenshire, said steroids were dangerous substances w
hich could cause serious psychiatric and physical problems: "We will carefully r
eview the recommendations set out in this report and respond shortly."
The government made cocaine, heroin, cannabis and other recreational drugs illeg
al a long time ago but has it stop people using, NO. Its about time they realise
d a different aproach is needed.
http://www.anabolictoday.com