science
One Third of UK Young People Bought Unapproved Performance Drugs Promoted Online
A UK Anti-Doping survey found 33 per cent of people aged 16-25 have purchased SARMs after seeing them advertised on social media. The drugs, which mimic testosterone to build muscle, carry serious health risks including liver damage, heart issues and reduced testosterone production. Officials launched a campaign to highlight the dangers and combat online misinformation during Clean Sport Week.
May 11, 6:14 AM·2m read2 sources
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A survey conducted for UK Anti-Doping has found that a third of people aged 16 to 25 in the UK have bought SARMs, synthetic drugs promoted online as performance enhancers but not approved for human consumption. The research, carried out by Censuswide, surveyed 1,043 young people and found 33 per cent had purchased the substances at some point after seeing advertisements or promotions on social media.
Twenty-nine per cent of the women surveyed were among those who had bought them. SARMs, or selective androgen receptor modulators, are designed to increase muscle mass and bone density by mimicking androgens. They are banned by the World Anti-Doping Agency and have been used illegally in elite sport as an alternative to anabolic steroids.
The drugs can cause liver damage, lower natural testosterone production, cardiovascular problems such as heart inflammation and thrombosis. In men they can lead to testicular shrinkage, reduced libido and sexual dysfunction. Officials described the potential side effects as life-threatening.
Forty-two per cent of those surveyed said they had seen social media content promoting "superhuman" or "shortcut results" from such substances at least once a week in the past 30 days, with some encountering it several times daily. The survey also found that a third of young people see advertisements for SARMs every week.
The substances are often marketed in tablet form, which young people appear to prefer over injected steroids. Promotions frequently use misleading or ambiguous language that presents the drugs as safe or safer alternatives.
