Advocates of steroid law reform
are very disappointed that Democratic
presidential candidate Barrack Obama selected
Senator Joseph Biden as his vice presidential
nominee. Senator Biden was the chief architect
of the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 that
criminalized the possession of anabolic steroids
for non-medical purposes. Biden also wrote the
Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 which
opened the door for significantly harsher
penalties for steroid possession and steroid
distribution; this has resulted in the increased
prosecution of steroid users over the past few
years who are treated as dangerous criminals
with the worst penalties for the non-medical use
of steroids in history. Senator Biden has been
on his anti-steroid crusade for almost two
decades.
In events like the
Chris Benoit family tragedy the alleged
perpetrator’s characteristics inevitably
suggest hypotheses and the search for confirming
evidence begins.
Anabolic steroids or anabolic-androgenic
steroids (AAS) were blamed before prescription
steroids were found, as researchers and
commentators alike called forth the popular
roid rage connection. If anabolic steroids
are blamed and the richness of these lives
ignored, then the opportunity to prevent
such rare events goes unrealized. Singling
out a drug to blame leads to fiery rhetoric,
congressional hearings, prohibition and
scare tactics; none of these have succeeded
in curbing drug use, especially among those
at greatest risk for harm. Most
steroid users
do not experience negative effects and hence
distrust the message and the messengers,
perhaps most notably among those who should
listen. Research has shown this many times.
Blaming steroids diverts focus from potential
indicators of risk and predictors of harmful
outcomes. This is where science might be
most helpful in dispelling simplistic notions
and in working toward more effective risk
identification, targeting of limited resources
and reducing associated harms.
According to the body of common knowledge, anabolic
steroids are dangerous and deadly drugs. The mainstream media have thoroughly
vilified these hormones for several decades. The use by mature adults of any
amount of anabolic hormones to enhance physical appearance is invariably labeled
anabolic steroid "abuse" and, consequently, the average American lumps the
athletic steroid user into the same depraved category as the heroin or cocaine
user. Law enforcement agents and prosecutors readily proceed accordingly in
furtherance of our national "War on Drugs." Only the most progressive physicians
accept the legitimacy of anabolic steroid use for any but the most limited
medical purposes. Understandably then, the proposition that our current approach
to the non-medical use of anabolic steroids is flawed, failing and in need of
reform is provocative to many.
In the United
States, anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) have always been
considered drugs. Contrary to what today's young athletes may
believe, these substances were never stocked on the shelves of the
corner grocery store. However, only within the last decade have
these drugs been classified as "controlled substances," thereby
placing them in the same general category as more infamous drugs,
including heroin, cocaine, LSD, and methamphetamine. The purpose of
this article is to examine some of the social, medical and legal
forces which have driven these changes and which continue to
influence the use, abuse, and prohibition of anabolic-androgenic
steroids.
Discussions of the potential
role of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) in
suicide surfaced recently when AAS and their use
among professional athletes were blamed for
several suicides of young adult males. These
allegations inspired a congressional
investigation and renewed anti-steroid rhetoric,
but little dispassionate evaluation. The
testimony of experts and grieving parents
notwithstanding, the role of AAS in suicide is
not clear. The recent tragedies that spurred
these investigations involved late adolescent
males, yet provoked widespread condemnations of
AAS. Problems among adolescent drug users cannot
inform issues of adult use (or vice-versa);
adolescents are not simply younger adults.
Efforts to ascribe such events to a single cause
can distract attention from other important
indicators that need to be noted. Ascribing
blame can be comforting at times of devastation
when one desperately needs to make sense of
events and "do something". But, from a
scientific perspective, such efforts must be
looked at skeptically and dispassionately. In
this scientists must strive to remain ethically
neutral and objective. They must attempt to
ensure that they communicate clearly, not
adjusting their message for a public seeking
confirming statements and value judgments.
Science has limitations, as do its research
methods. Scientists do their best service when
they remember this when reporting on their work
to the public.
Texas policy makers are heavily
influenced by cronyism, religious
fundamentalism, and belief, rather than science;
and, third, because of its current reliance on a
“faith-based” rather than a “science-based”
paradigm, the Government has elected to pursue
an expanded “thou-shalt-not,” draconian system
of prohibition as its steroid legislative
policy. It is the author’s opinion that this
stepped-up enforcement policy was directed at
physicians in Texas, after the Taylor Hooton
story broke. Anabolic steroid legislative and
enforcement policy, to date, has been an
unmitigated failure, because it intentionally
ignores scientific reality; and, until it comes
to terms with scientific reality instead of
focusing on quasi-religious issues of faith, it
will continue to fail the test. It is the
author’s opinion that had Taylor Hooton been Dr.
Scally’s patient, it is quite likely he would
still be with us today.
Two additional guilty pleas have
been linked to the Applied Pharmacy Services
federal steroid investigation codenamed
Operation Netroids. Dr. David A. Wilbirt and his
fiancée, Candace V. Toler, have both pleaded to
conspiracy to illegally dispensing and
distributing anabolic steroids. Physicians Scott
Corliss, Kenneth Olds, Kelly Tucker and Pamela
Pyle have previously pleaded guilty to steroid
conspiracy charges while dispensing various
anabolic steroids via Applied Pharmacy Services
(APS); Anti-aging expert James Abernathy has
also been linked to APS.
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. The clients
purchased anabolic steroids including
testosterone, Anadrol and trenbolone from the
Revolution Medical Center clinic. Doctors and
investigators are trying to prove that the
steroid treatment prescribed by Revolution
“caused” the suicides and deaths. But the
medical examiners in each of the respective
cases did not suspect anabolic steroids as a
cause of death and did not run a toxicology for
them. In fact, the autopsy of Aaron Atchley
found clear evidence that his death was due to
an accidental prescription drug overdose
involving of Xanax, Oxycontin and cocaine!
It appears that the federal
government is mounting a case against Applied
Pharmacy Services (APS) based in Mobile,
Alabama. APS has been target of a federal probe
for several years although no one with the
company has yet been charged with a crime. The
alleged conspiracy includes Applied Pharmacy
Services, Inc. with Samuel Kelley and Jason
Kelley identified as major shareholders involved
in the day-to-day operations of the pharmacy
Jeffrey Weiser, DDS. retired
from the practice of dentistry in May 2001; he
retained his DEA controlled substances
registration enabling him to continue writing
scripts for prescription medications.
Bodybuilders paid Weiser to write prescriptions
for various anabolic steroids such as
testosterone, nandrolone, oxandrolone and
stanozolol; human growth hormone; and ancillary
medications such as HCG, Clomid and Nolvadex
through his “personal fitness consulting
business.” Weiser advertised his services on
various bodybuilding forums and found many
customers.
Bryan Wilson of Pro Pharm
Laboratories pleaded guilty to federal steroid
distribution and money laundering charges as a
result of Operation Raw Deal. Investigators
amassed significant evidence in the case
including the use of a confidential informant to
purchase steroids from “Pro Pharm” as well as
video surveillance of April Wilson shipping
multiple steroid packages at the local post
office. Bryan Wilson was arrested iwhen he
picked up approximately one kilogram of steroid
powder imported from China.
The Owensboro Police Department
in Kentucky seized 150 vials of anabolic
steroids when they busted Charles Jowers on
August 21, 2008. They also seized $200,000 cash
along with a car and motorcycle. He has been
alleged to have sold steroids on various
bodybuilding forums under the following handles
- “HCP,” “QGL Rep,” “Gymvet,” “The Champ,” and “HardcorePharm.”
Mikal Gunn Schrage aka Maverick
pleaded guilty to steroid-related charges in an
agreement with federal prosecutors, Mikal
Schrage was indicted as part of Operation Raw
Deal (and regionally under Operation Juice Box)
on 26 counts related to possession, conspiracy
importation, manufacture and distribution of
anabolic steroids as well as money laundering.
Even with a plea agreement, Maverick still faces
significant prison time and financial penalties
Tyler Lunn, the third of four
defendants behind the underground lab Medline
Pharmaceuticals has pleaded guilty to one count
of conspiracy to distribute anabolic steroids.
Matthew Peltz and Walter Corey have previously
reached plea agreements with prosecutors. The
only defendant who has not pleaded guilty is
Edwin Porter. Tyler Lunn’s plea agreement was
filed on Monday.
Democratic VP Nominee Joseph Biden
Criminalized Anabolic Steroids and Put
Steroid Users in Jail
Steroid Doctor for Pro Wrestlers Pleads Guilty
in Applied Pharmacy Services Investigation
Pro Pharm Labs Pleads Guilty to Steroid
Distribution Charges
