The Steroid Boom: Why Everyone's Enhancing and What It Means
Steroid use is skyrocketing in gyms and online, redefining body optimization. Discover the impacts, risks, and motivations behind this trend.
Steroid and performance-enhancing drug (PED) use has become increasingly common, spreading from athletes to everyday individuals seeking physical and mental boosts. This trend is fueled by a desire for quick, noticeable results and societal pressures magnified by social media.
I've been pretty taken back by the trend in recent years. As a pharmacist, the quick expansion of Florida & Texas based compounding pharmacies who will meet with you on a 5-minute "men's health" consultation then send you steroids in the mail took me off guard. Doubly so, as someone who spends a lot of time in the gym or at cycling events, I was astonished at the number of 35+ year old men who were suddenly packing on muscle and thinning out their skin. The two couldn't possibly be correlated, could they?
In "Why Is Everyone on Steroids Now?" Rosecrans Baldwin explores how PEDs are not just for bodybuilders but also for professionals like day traders and software engineers, driven by various motivations from aesthetic desires to coping mechanisms. Baldwin shares the story of Nick, a former user who delved deep into the world of steroids, revealing both the physical transformation and the subsequent psychological struggles he faced.
"This world is like the Wild West," says Victoria Felkar, a researcher in women’s health and steroid hormones, highlighting the unregulated nature of the industry.
The normalization of PEDs is also evident in mainstream healthcare trends, like the acceptance of cannabis and psychedelics for therapeutic use. However, the rise of PEDs comes with significant health risks, including cardiovascular issues, liver damage, and psychological effects.
As society grapples with this new era of body modification, it's crucial to understand the complex motivations and potential dangers behind the growing use of steroids and other performance-enhancing substances.
