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Anabolic Steroid Intoxication Contributed to Fatal Overdose According to Medical Examiner

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Maricopa County Medical Examiner Vladimir Shvarts, M.D. has added anabolic steroid intoxication as a contributing factor in an accidental fatal drug overdose. The cause of death for Aaron Michael Achley was originally attributed to an accidental overdose of the prescription drugs Xanax (alprazolam) and Oxycontin (oxycodone) in addition to the recreational drug Cocaine.

The family of Aaron Achley, ABC15 Investigative Reporter Josh Berstein and Arizona state investigators pressured the Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner to change the official cause of death to include steroids. The medical examiner repeatedly refused to conduct additional testing for steroids. However, the medical examiner apparently relented once Doreen Achley, the victim’s mother, paid to have tissue samples tested by an independent lab (“Autopsy amended to include anabolic steroids,” October 24).

The amended “pathological diagnoses” on Aaron Achley’s autopsy identified the drugs responsible for the accidental fatal “Combined drug intoxication.” This time anabolic steroids (allegedly testosterone obtained from Revolution Medical Center) were a contributing factor to the death.

A. Alprazolam 0.35 mg/L.

B. Oxycodone 0.16 mg/L.

C. Blood is positive for cocaine and cocaine metabolites.

D. Abnormal testosterone/epitestosterone ratio (78).

The Maricopa County Office of the Medical Examiner has established precedent for anabolic steroid intoxication as an official cause of death in cases of accidental drug overdose. The Maricopa Medical Examiner has become politically guided in their practice of medicine rather than scientifically guided. Certainly, the basis for a fatal steroid overdose is the product of Hollywood, television and emotional steroid hysteria rather than science. We can laugh at the silliness of ridiculous television shows that incredulously tell us characters died from steroid overdoses. But it is no longer funny when the medical community tries to convince use that steroids can cause instant death from a steroid drug overdose.

About the author

Millard
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Millard writes about anabolic steroids and performance enhancing drugs and their use and impact in sport and society. He discusses the medical and non-medical uses of anabolic-androgenic steroids while advocating a harm reduction approach to steroid education.

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i irish_2003 Oct 27, 2008 #1

so it was not to to the positive test for hydrocodone, xanax, and coke.......here we go again so the media can run with it

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Avatar of Millard Millard Oct 27, 2008 #2

Here's the thing. The coroner originally listed drug overdose of Oxycontin, Xanax and Cocaine as the original cause of death.

But political pressure from the parents, a local news station, and state officials caused them to add steroid intoxication as a contributing cause of death - apparently given equal weight as the other drugs.

I'm not sure why the mom thought it was such a big deal to add AAS. Perhaps, she didn't want her son to be just another typical victim of a street drug overdose.

I suspect by pressuring the medical examiner to add steroid intoxication to the mix, it creates the potential for criminal liability for the doctor/clinic who prescribed testosterone to the victim. IOW, the family can't sue anyone for wrongly death because of cocaine/oxycontin/xanax. But they can surely sue Revolution Medical Center and the prescribing doctor.

This, of course, is pure speculation right now.

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Avatar of prodigy06 prodigy06 Oct 27, 2008 #3

I googled "anabolic steroid intoxication" and only found links to Millard's blog. Disapointing cause I really wanted to know exactly how testosterone causes your hart to stop.

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Avatar of HDH HDH Oct 28, 2008 #4

You won't find it.

HDH

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Avatar of Millard Millard Oct 29, 2008 #5

Correction - that would bolster a civil lawsuit against Revolution Medical Center and prescribing doctor(s) by the family.

But to include steroid intoxication as a contributing cause is nonetheless scientifically unfounded.

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Avatar of cruel.intentions cruel.intentions Oct 30, 2008 #6

I saw the little news clip that was on this page:

View image at the forums


Steroid Witch-Hunt Finds Bodies at Revolution Medical Center - MESO-Rx

An investigative report claims that anabolic steroids may have caused the deaths of three clients of a Phoenix-based longevity clinic in the past year.

View image at the forums


thinksteroids.com

What fucking ignorant pricks!
I especially hate the father whos kid commited suicide. He is a moron, he failed as a father obviouslly; so he needs to justify and protect his ego by blaming the kids death on something that already is viewed as deviant in society.

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P PureMuscle Oct 30, 2008 #7

You guys have to understand that the media is biased almost all of the time with situations like this. They'll put out only what they are told to. For example the war in Iraq, all you hear about is troops dying but they never put out anything positive. Suspicious? I think so.

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Avatar of Millard Millard Oct 30, 2008 #8

I expect the media to jump on the steroid hysteria bandwagon. But it's more disappointing to see the "sciences" do this on official state documents.

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L Little Man Syndrome Oct 30, 2008 #9

I just don't get how anyone in the medical community would go along with this. i have asked doctors about AS and they tell me unless i play pro ball they don't understand why Iwould would i risk it for no money. but they even told me it is unlikely anything bad will happen. Just not to buy it from a drug dealer. now i wonder if this would include pharmacies which are worse then drug dealers.
my brother has Been sick for a few years now. The doctors can't figure out what is wrong with him. they say he is faking it. one doctor told him they where going to give as much steriods as his body can hand without dieing. another doctor said it would kill him.
I forget what the total quanity was. but i remember it being almost 6 of my 10 gram cycles over like 6 hours. So that is when i dicided i knew more then atleast 30% of doctors out there seeing as how 70% of them refuse to treat the poor kid.

mind you there is no true facts in this statement. when he told me the quanity i though it was a real lot. and he just said "you really think that is alot." i told him how much i take and even he though he would seek other help. I wish there was a take home kit for that kind of treatment

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Avatar of HDH HDH Oct 31, 2008 #10

It seems they were forced to do it.

HDH

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Avatar of Millard Millard Oct 31, 2008 #11

Yeah, but if there is a civil suit that cites the autopsy as proof that steroids were at least in part responsible for the drug overdose, then that seems like a pretty big ethical breach.

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