We’re referring to burden on the public healthcare system right? What about people who choose to smoke tobacco/drink to excess and end up in hospital from MI/hepatic/renal failure/cancer or whatnot… should we say “well they shouldn’t be able to access help?” If we are referring to people taking out their AAS induced emotional burden on others… you’re right, that’s absolutely unacceptable. Also, thanks for the video, looks like an interesting watch and I’ll check it out asap
I disagree with the notion of policing people for actions that only hurt themselves… I think as a fully developed, mentally competent adult one should have the ability to make the simple decision “can I put this in my body”.
There are a few countries wherein AAS are approved for OTC use and/or are legal for personal use, not that it’s important… but the sky didn’t fall. I’m not advocating legalisation, as I believe for something as complex as AAS the majority shouldn’t be using… they have no idea what they’re putting into their body… but decriminalisation/legalisation for personal use I agree with. I don’t see the point of locking a guy up for a few years because he had a few vials of test.
What medications do people already use at will though. Heroin, oxycodone (opioids), benzodiazepines, z-drugs, cannabis, cocaine you name it… restrictive measures haven’t stopped people from taking this stuff. It isn’t to say “legalise everything”, but personal use shouldn’t net jail time in my opinion… go after the suppliers if you want to cut off the supply, punishing users does nothing to stop the drug trade in it’s tracks.
We also need more funding put into legitimate harm minimisation/educational programs (absent of bias, with programs like DARE/generalised “just say no programs” people saw right through). I recall one study looking at teens (adults may be different), it came to the conclusion many tune out when told obviously biased and/or ideologies preaching abstinence because it wasn’t relevant to them, their life (what peers or even they might be doing). Kids tended to listen properly when unbiased information regarding the risks of varying substances were disclosed to them. I believe if the majority knew “look, if you take this you might require TRT for the rest of you’re life, long term you might be looking at cardiac enlargement etc”… they wouldn’t be messing around with AAS
However this is a thread for a different topic. I don’t wish to de-rail this thread.
Btw I’m currently watching the video you sent me… it’s very, very interesting, highly appreciated