einstein (São Paulo). 09/Jun/2026;24((spe1)):eRW1998.
Anabolic androgenic steroids are human enhancement drugs, not necessarily substance abuse
DOI: 10.31744/einstein_journal/2026RW1998
ABSTRACT
This essay examines human enhancement drugs – particularly anabolic-androgenic steroids – through the lens of public health theory from the Global South. It critiques prohibitionist policies, which criminalize users while disregarding social determinants, as well as extreme relativism, which reduces consumption to individual autonomy alone. In contrast, harm reduction emerges as an evidence-based, user-centered approach that rejects criminalization, upholds human rights, and provides contextualized health responses. By reframing anabolic-androgenic steroids as human enhancement drugs, the analysis promotes a less moralistic perspective shifting the focus from individual behavior to broader societal pressures. Allied with Global South public health frameworks, harm reduction addresses the health needs of people who use drugs, prioritizing societal transformation over punishment.
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