Houston Fights Steroid Abuse

June 7, 9:12 PMHouston Health ExaminerJillian Holden

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Over the last decade, Houston has seen a rise in steroid usage as people fight to get ahead in fitness, to excel in athletics, or to get a quick jolt of energy, but officers are beginning to crack down.  Just last week they arrested more than 70 gym owners and trainers for drug and steroid involvement, their positions ranging from suppliers to users, and they are not backing down.  With over 150,000 trainers nationwide, the world of fitness and athletic training is almost entirely unregulated and unmapped, making it extremely hard to monitor, particularly since thousands of items proclaim they can be beneficial if used responsibly.  

Millard Baker, creator of MESO-Rx, a website focusing on steroid issues, explained that steroids are relatively easy to obtain, especially if you know the right people.  Even more so, he said society has painted a false image of steroid users.  It is not athletes who dominate the steroidal realm; the scope is far wider.  More than 40% of anabolic steroid users are college degreed men, with vocations ranging from bankers to scientists according to the 2007 study performed by the Journal of International Sports Nutrition. 

When going to the gym, most people want to see results.  Whether they want to build muscle, firm abs, or tighten glutes, a gym is an all access pass to work out. That is why a personal trainer is valuable, if they know their job.  They can teach you how to strengthen and tone your body in the best ways possible.  Unfortunately, trainers work in a highly competitive field and are often independent contractors, making them highly lucrative or penniless, depending on a variety of factors.  This tempts many to supply steroids or other enhancements to their customers to provide quick results and ensure them to return specifically to them.  Muscle growth, toning, and firming of the body will appear faster with steroids, but often at a price later in life.   

Tuan M. Tran, bodybuilder at BONA Fitness on Westheimer, explains that steroid temptation often begins with someone who is driven, goal set, and fitness oriented.  Willing to work hard, if they have inadvertently or purposely chosen an unscrupulous trainer, their training and effort will lead to a presentation of steroids or other drugs. The trainer may not initially tell them of their purpose, but if dramatic improvements are seen, the user will be hooked and unable to stop taking the drug.  This is what our cops are fighting to prevent, innocence becoming tainted by so-called “vitamins” or “herbs” as dealers fight to stay afloat.