Infection from AAS Use

[J DUB]

Rich JD, Dickinson BP, Feller A, Pugatch D, Mylonakis E The Infectious
Complications of Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Injection Int J Sports Med.
1999; 20(8): 563-6
One million individuals in the United States alone are estimated to be
current or past users of anabolic-androgenic steroids. In the United States
fifty-percent of anabolic-androgenic steroid users administer their compounds
intramuscularly, and twenty-five percent of adolescent anabolic-androgenic
steroid users share needles, placing these young adults at risk for
infections related to injection. To examine the medical literature for
reports of infections attributable to anabolic-androgenic steroids, we
conducted a MEDLINE (1966-1998) and AIDSLINE (1980-1998) world literature
review to examine all references that attributed infections to
anabolic-androgenic steroid injection.

Infections associated with anabolic-androgenic steroid injection include
three cases of HIV, one case of hepatitis B, one case of hepatitis C, eight
abscesses, and a case of fungal endophthalmitis. No cross-sectional or
prospective studies exist that document the risk of infections related to
anabolic-androgenic steroid injection. These serious infectious complications
of anabolic-androgenic steroid injection may be avoided with education and
prevention techniques. Infections occurring in anabolic-androgenic steroid
users are not as common as in intravenous drug users.

My thoughts:

1) If 1,000,000 people are estimated to be using steroids then a) the laws aren't working to curb use and b) they must not be that dangerous given how few complications arise from their use

2) Infection from steroid use is not resulting from steroids themselves, but rather because they are illegal. In my state, even having syringes is illegal, so no wonder people have to use the same needle and thus risk infection.