Anabolic steroids are sold illegally on social networks – 12/07/2023 – Health

Restrictions on anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) in Brazil date back to the year 2000. Since then, sales for human use only occur with the presentation and retention of a medical prescription. In 2023, the CFM (Federal Council of Medicine) banned its prescription for aesthetic purposes. But purchasing on the internet has not changed.

Those who consume the products illegally have access to sponsored ads on Google, shopping groups on social media, freebies from 100 boxes of anabolic steroids, tank tops with the name of unregistered pharmaceutical companies, delivery to subway stations and even delivery by post office throughout the country. country.

“Boys… I’m from Mooca. I want to get it hard, deca… 50cx [caixas] decade. If so, come by DM [mensagem privada]”, says a member of a Facebook group. “Dura” is Sustanon and “deca” is Deca-Durabolin — the two EAA medicines registered with Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency).

The message published in October had 17 responses. “I have it, I deliver it to stations in São Paulo,” replied a salesperson.

Anvisa has removed more than 174 thousand advertisements for products that are sold irregularly on the internet since December 2021. At least 5,000 of these were for hormones, substances that make up anabolic steroids.

The illegal trade in steroids —when there is no medical prescription for health reasons— can constitute a crime against public health. The penalty is 10 to 15 years in prison and a fine. In 2021, however, the STF (Supreme Federal Court) declared the sentence disproportionate and established a duration of 1 to 3 years.

Still, the Facebook group brings together more than a thousand people and is not the only one where it is possible to buy products illegally. On Telegram, the two most popular groups have almost 6,000 members.

The communities are organized by moderators who warn users in advance when they are going on vacation, ask them to be careful with “scam sellers” and give users tips on which medication to use.

“I just started at the gym, what drugs are you [vocês] recommend, I weigh 49 kg”, asks a member on Telegram.

When searching for anabolic steroids, online portals specializing in over-the-counter sales appear in sponsored ads on the first page of Google. One of them, “Pharma Fit”, has space for customers to evaluate products and delivery. “Everything arrived ok, now we just have to focus on training”, says a buyer.

Another ad offers “deca and dura” with immediate shipping. “Oxandrolone cycles, 100% original products, oral stano deca and dura available. We deliver to all of Brazil, check customer feedback. Buy at a discount”, says sponsored content on Google.

Three have the same name as a Paraguayan brand, which has its official website in Spanish. In Brazil, however, irregular sellers adopt the name with different variations. The portals forward to a number on Whatsapp — where most sales take place.

Some portals offer shipping within 48 hours, free insurance and a free tank top for purchases over R$200.

Google claims, in a note, to have robust policies that restrict the way in which people and companies can advertise medicines or health-related services on Google Ads. When a violation is identified, the note says, advertisements are suspended, and it is also possible to make complaints.

In groups on different social networks, members also organize themselves for motivational conversations on Whatsapp. Facebook pages that publish especially for the public who want to get “maromba” also encourage use.

“Our page aims to exchange information about training, diets, supplements, and much more” says one. Below each post, there is a message with the “stop contact” on Whatsapp.

Meta, responsible for Facebook and Whatsapp, says it prohibits the sale of drugs on the platforms, whether non-medicinal or medicinal, and removes content as soon as it is identified. “We use a combination of reports from our community, technology and human review to enforce our policies,” says a spokesperson in a statement.

The Facebook group analyzed in the article was created in June this year and had not been removed at the time of publication of this article.

Whatsapp specifically informs that in the application’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, it does not allow the use of its service for illegal purposes or to instigate or encourage conduct that is illegal or inappropriate. In cases of violation of these terms, says the spokesperson, measures are taken such as deactivating or suspending accounts.

The Federal Police states that, from 2020 to date, eight operations have been carried out to combat the online trade in anabolic steroids, which resulted in eight arrests in the act and the issuance of 47 search and seizure warrants.

The total number of seizures of anabolic steroids in this period exceeds 25 thousand, according to data sent to the report — including operations outside online commerce. Of these, more than 6 thousand were found in postal parcels.

Doctor Frederico Maia, member of the Brazilian Society of Endocrinology (Sbem) and specialist in sports, states that the ease of selling products on the internet is enormous.

Unrestrained purchasing, according to him, is a problem mainly due to the indiscriminate use, without correct administration of doses, and the dubious quality of the products sold.

“They are made in backyard industries with no regulations and we have no knowledge of the quality of the product. A survey carried out in Denmark says that 30 to 40% of anabolic steroids sold online were altered or did not have the dose they claimed to have” , says Maia.

When a patient arrives with problems due to irregular use of anabolic steroids, harm reduction is carried out, says the doctor. “If you have been using it, we will try to provide guidance and transition you to an appropriate treatment. If you are someone who has used it several times, you may be eligible for hormone replacement therapy.”

“Most people don’t say they use it. We receive those who come for help, but we don’t know the total body of these users”, says the endocrinologist.

The use of anabolic steroids is restricted to medical prescription because they can harm your health in several ways. Some of them are the risk of testicular atrophy, enlarged breasts in men, prostate enlargement, risk of hair loss, acne, heart risk with a greater chance of heart attack and stroke, arrhythmia, sudden death, liver disease, in addition to the risk of dependence and use of other associated drugs.

In groups accompanied by Sheet, there are no comments on the dangers of use. At most, they talk about side effects. “Is ear pain normal when using Oxondrolone?” asks a member. The seller responds that he never received reports from customers.