Friday, January 29, 2016

Characteristics and Behaviors of Older Male Anabolic Steroid Users

OBJECTIVE:
To compare and contrast the characteristics of 2 groups of men ≥40 years old: reported anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) users and nonusers...

...MAIN OUTCOMES MEASURED:
Demographics, utilization of AAS and other performance-enhancing agents (PEAs), exercise patterns, history of illicit drugs and alcohol use, and psychiatric traits/diagnoses.

RESULTS:
The majority of AAS users ≥40 years old were caucasian (92.5%), heterosexual (97.0%), and classified themselves as recreational exercisers (79.1%). AAS users took more PEAs (11.5 ± 5.6 vs 4.6 ± 2.7; P < .001), were more likely to binge drink (47.8% vs 29.0%; P = .025), report heavy alcohol use (21.0% vs 7.9%; P = .031), meet criteria for substance dependence disorder (27.4% vs 4.0%; P < .001), and report an anxiety disorder diagnosis (12.0% vs 2.6%; P = .046) than nonusers.

CONCLUSIONS:
AAS misuse is prevalent among older men and is associated with polypharmacy, more aggressive alcohol use, and a higher incidence of substance dependence and anxiety disorders compared to nonusers. This information may help clinicians and researchers identify and develop appropriate intervention strategies for AAS abuse among older men.

Purchase full article at:   http://goo.gl/Wxy2Yf

  • 1Department of Pharmacy Practice, Touro University California College of Pharmacy, Vallejo, CA, USA eric.ip@tu.edu.
  • 2Department of Pharmacy Practice, Touro University California College of Pharmacy, Vallejo, CA, USA.
  •  2015 Oct;28(5):450-6. doi: 10.1177/0897190014527319. Epub 2014 Mar 18.




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