Anabolic androgenic steroids and violence.

OBJECTIVE

To scrutinize the criminal career among users of anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS) with focus on a possible relationship between use of AAS and violent offences.

METHOD

Prospective longitudinal follow-up of police records concerning known users of AAS.

RESULTS

The present study describes five young men who started to use AAS with the primary motive of gaining muscle mass and strength and who subsequently got involved in criminal activities, including violent offences. One person showed deviant behaviour suggestive of conduct disorder at an early age. The other persons appeared to have low self-confidence, but had not been acting out during early adolescence.

CONCLUSION

Use of AAS may constitute an increased risk of developing an antisocial life style with involvement in criminal violence.