Use of enhancement drugs amongst athletes and television celebrities and public interest in androgenic anabolic steroids. Exploring two Peruvian cases with Google Trends

Abstract

Non-medical use of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) has been reported in non-competitive athletes with the intention to improve physical appearance, particularly muscle size and definition. The misuse of AASdnamely, non-prescribed and use clearly outside medical guidelinesdis a cause for public health concern, given their physical and psychological adverse effects, such as disruption of endogenous testosterone production, liver tumours, heart failure, altered mood, increment of aggressive behaviour, and strokes, as well as their visibility and availability in the Internet and social networks...