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Anabolic Steroids Identified as a Major Social Problem in Norway

Authorities in the Norwegian cities of Førde and Sunnfjord were baffled by the escalating incidence of violence in the community. There were large groups of muscular young men were roaming the streets, frequenting bars and starting fights. Some of the men who sported bodybuilding-type physiques were even being hospitalized for psychiatric treatment. The epidemic of violence started to spread to other Norwegian cities including Verdalen, Trondheim, Kristiansund, Ålesund, Florø, Bergen, Odda, Haugesund, Stavanger, Lillesand, Fredrikstad, Drammen, Flisa, Oslo and Gjøvik. There was considerable unrest as citizens became alarmed and frightened.

Police Chief Johan Brekke of the Sogn og Fjordane police district knew this could only mean one thing. Anabolic steroids had invaded Norway! Police Chief Gunnar Englund in Førde og Naustdal also suspected that anabolic steroids and other drugs were responsible for the disturbing changes in behavior observed in various young people that created the climate of aggression and violence.

Together Brekke and Englund initiated a steroid investigation that eventually expanded across the country of Norway to include 16 police districts. The year-long investigation recently culminated with the seizure of illegal drugs valued at over $8 million in United States currency, the arrest of 63 individuals, the identification of customers in over 10 cities and the opening of approximately 200 criminal cases involving anabolic steroids and narcotics. The internet-based illegal drugs network was allegedly masterminded by a 24-year old man who lived with his mother and father in Førde.

Bjørn Barland, Associate Professor at the Police College in Oslo, identified anabolic steroids as a “major social problem” in Norway that could no longer be denied. In his “expert” opinion, anabolic steroids represented a far greater social problem than police had previously imagined.

Anabolic steroids can “cause” considerable psychological harm according to Dr. Barland. Even worse, Dr. Barland explains how the interaction between anabolic steroids and alcohol could have dangerous consequences. Apparently, steroids when taken in combination with alcohol can lead to poor judgment, extreme aggression or “roid rage”, personality changes, and anti-social behavior. But the worst side effects resulted from using steroids with alcohol, according to Dr. Barland. Such a combination could function as a gateway to other recreational narcotic drugs.

Dr. Barland’s steroid gateway hypothesis must explain why the massive Norwegian bust primarily uncovered two categories of drugs – “anabolic steroids” and “date rape drugs.” The drug dealers must have introduced steroids into the underground marketplace only to facilitate a market for the Rohypnol-type drug called phenazepam aka “panda” in Norway.

The police in Norway characterized the drug raids as a crack down on the so-called epidemic of steroid use that represented the newest social issue facing the Scandinavian country. But in fact, the steroid trade only represented a small percentage of the drugs seized in the nationwide. The street value of the steroids seized was worth less than half a million dollars. On the other hand, the street value of “panda” exceeded $7 million (USD). Police seized 28,800 tablets of phenazepam and 1.78 kilograms of powdered phenazepam which represented 1.6 million tablets in finished form.

Phenazepam aka “panda” is a benzodiazepine drug created in the former Soviet Union and currently in Russia and several former Soviet Republics that are now members of the Commonwealth of Independent States. Phenazepam is used recreationally as a substitute for Rohypnol (flunitrazepam). It is not classified as a controlled substance in the United States as the Controlled Substance Analogue Act only applies to Schedule I and Schedule II and not the Schedule III benzodiazepine class of drugs.

How could such dubious experts use this drug bust as the basis for calling the use of anabolic steroids a “major social problem” when it is dwarfed by the distribution of phenazepam? Apparently, steroid hysteria is alive and well outside the United States.

Sources:
“Norwegian police detain 63 in drug raids,” January 14, 2009
“Omsatte narko på nettet,” January 15, 2009
“Politiet uforberedt på omfanget,” January 15, 2009

By Millard Baker

http://www.millardbaker.com

www.SteroidsRx.com