The epidemiology of anabolic-androgenic steroids use among secondary students (Valencia-Spain)

  1. Víctor Agulló Calatayud
  2. Teresa Samper Gras 1
  3. Julia Aguilar Serrano 2
  4. Sofía Tomás Dols 3
  1. 1 Departament de Sociologia i Antropologia Social. Universitat de València. España
  2. 2 Freelance. Especialista en Prevención de Drogodependencias y otras Conductas Adictivas
  3. 3 Médica especialista en Salud Pública. Ex directora General de Drogodependencias. Conselleria de Sanidad Universal y Salud Pública, G. V., España
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Journal:
Health and addictions: salud y drogas

ISSN: 1578-5319

Year of publication: 2019

Volume: 19

Issue: 2

Pages: 1-7

Type: Article

DOI: 10.21134/HAAJ.V19I2.423 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openOpen access editor

More publications in: Health and addictions: salud y drogas

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Abstract

The consumption of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) is continuously growing in recent years among young people. The purpose of the current study was to examine the proportion of students who reported AAS use, explore other drug use among them and finally to determine the sociodemographic profile of the AAS consumption amongst a sample of students in the Valencian Region (Spain). Method. Data was taken from a selfadministrated survey of a representative sample of 11,162 Valencian students. A total of 252 schools participated in the study. Results. The findings show that 3.3% of surveyed students reported that they had consumed AAS. Males reported to take anabolic more frequently than females. The older they are the more frequent the reporting of consumptions. Among users of AAS it exists a higher prevalence of consumption of cannabis 64.2%, cocaine 23.8%, hypnotics 22.9%, ecstasy 16.8%, LSD 14% or heroine 4.1%, compare to nonusers. Conclusion. The study shows that the consumption of steroids is mainly masculine, a clear association with polyconsumption, frequent scheming as the main source of getting them and that the consumption of these substances is bigger among students whose family situation is characterized by the absence of a masculine figure (single mother or widow) in comparison with those whose parents are married.

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