PHUKET: Almost anywhere in the city, you can buy steroids over the counter. At pharmacies, in gyms, and even in some markets. But don’t be fooled: Anabolic steroids are not the same as growth hormones and are in fact a dangerous drug that can cause serious health problems.
The sale of anabolic steroids and other performance-enhancing drugs is booming in Thailand. But the problem is far from confined to the country, with an unregulated global market that puts users at risk. Adulterated products and the lack of stringent regulations contribute to the harm, including the possibility of addiction, that can be caused by this type of substance abuse.
Steroids, such as anabolic androgenic steroids, stimulate the release of dopamine and serotonin in the brain, causing mood changes and positive reinforcing effects that can lead to addiction. They also increase muscle mass, strength and speed up recovery from training.
Using steroids can have many negative side effects, such as acne and enlarged prostate glands in men and ovarian cysts in women. The risk of heart attacks, stroke and liver damage is also higher.
Despite these risks, thousands of amateur bodybuilders travel to the seedy Thai beach resort town of Pattaya each year in search of a dream physique. The ease of obtaining steroids, and their relatively low cost in Thailand, lures them, especially those from Australia where the drugs are heavily restricted by some of the world’s strictest laws. In a few minutes at a pharmacy in the city’s main district, Spectrum was able to purchase six anabolic androgenic steroids and a dangerous weight-loss drug that can cause renal problems and alopecia. Steroids Thailand