Anabolic growth hormones are being found in the state’s mail with police now specifically targeting the drug
PATRICK BILLINGS, Police reporter, Mercury
August 18, 2017 4:00am
Subscriber only
GYM junkie is taking on a new meaning in Tasmania after a spike in the amount of steroids seized by police.
Due to the levels of steroids coming into Tasmania, often by mail, police are now treating it as its own drug category to monitor the problem.
Police seized 2758mL of steroids in 2016-17 with more than 75 per cent of that being intercepted in the state’s south.
Detective Inspector Jason Elmer, who ran the drug squad when the problem emerged, said most of the steroids were being bought in small amounts for personal use.
“Because we are monitoring the mail more closely we were certainly seizing more of it as that was where it was coming through,” he told the Mercury.
“It’s a mixed profile but a lot of it does come back to young gym goers who use the internet to order it.
“We don’t believe there’s large scale trafficking of steroids but it’s a concern in terms of safety because these people don’t know what they are putting into their body, particularly when they are ordering it [from] outside of the country.”
Anabolic steroids are synthetic variations of the male sex hormone testosterone.
They are prevalent in bodybuilding and sports because they boost athletic performance.
Insp Elmer said some offenders were claiming ignorance when busted by police.
“People quite often say they didn’t realise it was illegal … they were getting on the internet in the majority of cases and ordering it in,” he said.
“We are certainly monitoring it very closely and people need to be aware that it’s an offence to bring it into the state and to use it.”
Police have seized steroids coming into the state through the mail.
Director of Public Health, Dr Mark Veitch, has warned about the dangers of steroid use.
“Purchasing drugs or medication online without clinical advice from a doctor or pharmacist is dangerous,” he said.
“Drugs inappropriately sold online may not meet standards for safety or purity. They may result in unpredictable effects and side-effects which put users’ health at risk.
“The misuse of steroids is a serious health matter, and may cause a wide range of harmful effects, including heart disease, stroke, infections, hormonal imbalances and psychiatric illness.”
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse steroids’ side effects include paranoia, extreme irritability, delusions, “roid rage”, kidney problems, liver damage and heart disease
In men, their use can lead to shrinking testicles, decreased sperm count, baldness, breasts and an increased risk of prostate cancer.
In women they can cause growth of facial hair or excess body hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in the menstrual cycle, enlarged genitalia and a deepened voice.
Teenagers also risk stunting their growth.
This whole article is humorous and scary to say the least. The lack of knowledge out there is borderline ridiculous.
mands
PATRICK BILLINGS, Police reporter, Mercury
August 18, 2017 4:00am
Subscriber only
GYM junkie is taking on a new meaning in Tasmania after a spike in the amount of steroids seized by police.
Due to the levels of steroids coming into Tasmania, often by mail, police are now treating it as its own drug category to monitor the problem.
Police seized 2758mL of steroids in 2016-17 with more than 75 per cent of that being intercepted in the state’s south.
Detective Inspector Jason Elmer, who ran the drug squad when the problem emerged, said most of the steroids were being bought in small amounts for personal use.
“Because we are monitoring the mail more closely we were certainly seizing more of it as that was where it was coming through,” he told the Mercury.
“It’s a mixed profile but a lot of it does come back to young gym goers who use the internet to order it.
“We don’t believe there’s large scale trafficking of steroids but it’s a concern in terms of safety because these people don’t know what they are putting into their body, particularly when they are ordering it [from] outside of the country.”
Anabolic steroids are synthetic variations of the male sex hormone testosterone.
They are prevalent in bodybuilding and sports because they boost athletic performance.
Insp Elmer said some offenders were claiming ignorance when busted by police.
“People quite often say they didn’t realise it was illegal … they were getting on the internet in the majority of cases and ordering it in,” he said.
“We are certainly monitoring it very closely and people need to be aware that it’s an offence to bring it into the state and to use it.”
Police have seized steroids coming into the state through the mail.
Director of Public Health, Dr Mark Veitch, has warned about the dangers of steroid use.
“Purchasing drugs or medication online without clinical advice from a doctor or pharmacist is dangerous,” he said.
“Drugs inappropriately sold online may not meet standards for safety or purity. They may result in unpredictable effects and side-effects which put users’ health at risk.
“The misuse of steroids is a serious health matter, and may cause a wide range of harmful effects, including heart disease, stroke, infections, hormonal imbalances and psychiatric illness.”
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse steroids’ side effects include paranoia, extreme irritability, delusions, “roid rage”, kidney problems, liver damage and heart disease
In men, their use can lead to shrinking testicles, decreased sperm count, baldness, breasts and an increased risk of prostate cancer.
In women they can cause growth of facial hair or excess body hair, male-pattern baldness, changes in the menstrual cycle, enlarged genitalia and a deepened voice.
Teenagers also risk stunting their growth.
This whole article is humorous and scary to say the least. The lack of knowledge out there is borderline ridiculous.
mands
