The use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) is no longer confined to elite bodybuilding and professional sports.
The use of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs (PEDs) is no longer confined to elite bodybuilding and professional sports. Today, it is increasingly becoming a widespread phenomenon among young men who train recreationally and have no competitive ambitions. Fueled by social media, fitness influencers, and easy access to both information and substances, this trend is leading to increasingly risky patterns of use, the long-term consequences of which are still not fully understood, National Geographic reported.
The story of Daniel Coffin illustrates this process. A former serviceman who was never naturally athletic, he gradually immersed himself in fitness culture after completing his service in the United States Army. After years of training—ranging from CrossFit and powerlifting to bodybuilding—Coffin decided to turn to steroids, feeling that without them he could not achieve the body he desired. Like many others, he drew information from online forums, ordered substances from abroad, and experimented with dosages, cycles, and combinations of drugs. Although he became stronger and larger, he remained dissatisfied with his appearance and was willing to push himself to extremes.
Today, Coffin speaks openly on social media about his use of PEDs and describes it as a personal choice. His case, however, is no longer an exception. According to studies co-authored by Harvard professor Harrison Pope—one of the world’s leading experts on anabolic-androgenic steroids—the majority of today’s users are recreational athletes rather than professionals. The substances used include testosterone and its synthetic derivatives, which stimulate muscle growth but carry serious risks, such as an increased likelihood of heart attack and stroke, hormonal disorders, infertility, reduced libido, and psychological changes.
The media play a key role in normalizing this culture. As early as the 1970s and 1980s, figures such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sylvester Stallone, and Hulk Hogan turned the muscular body into a symbol of success, masculinity, and strength, without audiences fully understanding the role of steroids. Today, social media amplify this effect many times over. Fitness influencers with “enhanced” physiques set unattainable standards, often denying the use of PEDs or portraying risky behavior as normal and manageable.
In this environment, steroid use is no longer an isolated act but part of so-called polypharmacy—the combination of multiple legal and illegal substances. In addition to anabolic steroids, users may take growth hormone, breast cancer medications to control estrogen levels, clenbuterol for fat loss, and in some cases even insulin, despite the serious risk of hypoglycemia and coma. Experts such as Katinka van de Ven warn that this practice significantly increases the risk of cardiovascular, hormonal, and psychiatric complications.
Particularly alarming is the growing trend known as “blasting and cruising”—the continuous use of steroids without genuine breaks. Instead of traditional cycles with recovery periods, many men maintain constant low doses between phases of high doses in order to appear “pumped” at all times. This prolongs the body’s exposure to harmful substances and heightens the risk of long-term damage.
The problem is further compounded by the stigma surrounding steroid use. Muscular men are rarely perceived as vulnerable or in need of help, and many physicians lack the necessary training to work with this group of patients. As a result, many users avoid the healthcare system and rely instead on advice from internet forums or illicit sources.
Nevertheless, some former bodybuilders and harm-reduction specialists emphasize that simple moralizing does not work. Psychological dependence, identity, and the pressure to look a certain way are often stronger than fear of health consequences. Even individuals who have experienced serious health problems admit that, in the past, warnings alone would not have stopped them. | BGNES
