Bullshit.
This is a pro AAS forum, so i expect this kind of bias.
The argument here is simplistic to the point where it appears logical. It's not.
AAS has definite affects on the brain, and the combined affect on the body, as well as its high attrition rate for those who abuse it, make it a potential social problem. You cant compare it to smoking, as thats a legacy problem that is beyond fixing via legal avenues.
You are a fool if you think AAS is benign or "not as much of a problem as..."
Still, this being the forum it is, i expect many reasons why it should be legal and justification for its continued use, as well as underestimation of its damaging effects on the body, psychii and physiology...not to mention the flow on problems they cause.
Can you provide any data to support what you're saying? I'm referring to the brain and body related effects you are referring to. I'm not being an ass, I honestly asking.
Here is some factual data.
*During the steroid hearings leading to the Steroid Control Act of 1990, the AMA, FDA, NIDA and DEA all stated there was no evidence anabolic steroids held any mentally addicting or altering characteristics necessary to Schedule the substances. Congress would then respond with its normal comment that this wasn't about healthy effects more than it was protecting sports and children...the same comment used when passing the Steroid Control Act of 2004. In short, congress had to break its own law to Schedule anabolic steroids as they did not meet the requirement necessary to Schedule a substance. The same would apply to the physical damaging effects; the AMA would state there was no evidence and on this basis stated "We vehemently oppose the ban" a statement shared by the other health and law enforcement agencies.
*Former U.S. Olympic Team physicians, I can't remember the exact yr, it was the 1990's stated after much research the effects of anabolic steroids on the brain appear to be so small they cannot be measured if they exist at all. They were referring to the mind altering effects often purported, not to testosterones relationship to mental health.
*1996, the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) releases its study "The Effects of Supraphysiologic Doses of Testosterone on Muscle Size and Strength in Normal Men." There were 40 men in the study ranging from 19 to 49 yrs old, 20 were given 600mg of Testosterone-Enanthate per wk for 10wks. All health and mental factors were measured and evaluated prior to the test. At the conclusion of the test, no health or mental problems were found in a single man, they would even state there were no changes whatsoever in the mood inventory portion of the test and that the family members of each individual reported no changes in mood or behavior.
*In almost 100yrs, there has yet to be a single recorded death directly linked to anabolic steroid use. Not one. Compare this to NSAID painkillers that claim the lives of more than 16,500 Americans alone each and every year.
*For the last decade plus, Dr. Gary Wadler, the leader of the anti-AAS movement, the primary physician called upon by congress and head of the Olympic anti-doping commission has repeatedly stated we don't know what the serious effects of steroids are because we can't do testing because they're too dangerous. How on earth does a comment like that make sense and more importantly, how has it been deemed logical?
I could continue to list countless examples like all of the above, my question again is where is your data? If you quote a government health website, this doesn't count if they make a statement but provide no data to back it up. Most who believe steroids to be the evil they perceive believe so because that's what they've been told countless times without any facts or data to back it up. That's simply the truth. Don't misunderstand me, I'm not saying there are not potential side-effects, of course there are; if you put anything into your body there are potential side-effects. Some people can't take Aspirin, some people can't drink milk or eat peanuts or it will make them sick. Even vitamins carry some possible horrific side-effects; does this mean we need to Schedule Aspirin, milk, peanuts and vitamins? Further, it has been proven time and time again the side-effects of anabolic steroids can be controlled and largely avoided if you supplement with the intelligence slightly above a plant and are a healthy adult.