Anabolic androgenic steroids are highly used among athletes, usually to increase muscle mass and strength. Therefore, using a self applicable questionnaire in a transversal study, 305 athletes were interviewed (randomically selected) from the Santa Maria physical fitness clubs, in order to establish many variables related to the use of anabolic steroids. Most participants were men (81.1%) and mean age was 22 years (sd ± 7). Although 29% used food additives, only 2% of the individuals admitted having used anabolic steroids (although 46% of the individuals submitted to the questionnaire know a anabolic steroid user). Two-thirds of the users purchased the drug in drugstores (with no medical prescription) and 35.1% did not know the effects of the drug. Twenty-eight point four percent of the subjects believe that "adequate" doses of anabolic steroids are not harmful to health. Thus, the authors concluded that the main preventive step against the use anabolic steroids is to inform the athletes.
