The general public is certainly more aware of steroid use, but, it's because of high profile steroid scandals: Macguire/Sosa, Barry Bonds and Arod.
I recall when Macguire/Sosa were having their home run race, I told all my non-bodybuilding savy friends that they were both on steroids. At the time, you didn't hear a word about this from anyone on sports talk radio. These morons couldn't understand how steroids could help a baseball player, as if hitting a ball farther and harder isn't an advantage. Now, the same sports talk geeks are all steroid experts.