Anabolic Steroids, Aggression and Violence - Dr. Jack Darkes, PhD Commentary

[Millard Baker]

The Chris Benoit Tragedy - Anabolic Steroids, Aggression & Violence

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 roid rage connection. Such narrow reasoning backward from the act and actor to the cause shows that jumping to conclusions can seem like reasonable inference. One commentator even noted her preference for blaming steroids over accepting that a person could commit this act, as if assuming that, in the absence of some drug influence, such an act would be a conscious decision, that the only possible causes were drugs or volition. It is likely that research and data will not change these views; still they should not be forsaken.

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 AAS 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 AAS 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.

http://www.mesomorphosis.com/article...d-violence.htm