TY - JOUR T1 - ANABOLIC ANDROGENIC STEROID USE DISORDER: A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE AU - Öner, Bedirhan Sezer AU - İritaş, Servet Birgin PY - 2025 DA - April Y2 - 2025 DO - 10.55895/sshs.1688203 JF - Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Health Sciences JO - SSHS PB - Amasya University WT - DergiPark SN - 2667-6338 SP - 39 EP - 42 VL - 7 IS - 1 LA - en AB - Androgenic-anabolic steroids (AAS) are synthetic substances derived from the male hormone testosterone. According to the current scientific literature, these substances are widely used, particularly by athletes and bodybuilders, to enhance muscle mass. Beyond their use in sports, AAS are increasingly misused by a broader population seeking muscle growth without an increase in fat mass, making AAS abuse a significant public health concern. Due to the physiological, psychological, and social effects associated with AAS use and its widespread prevalence, healthcare professionals should identify patients who may be at risk and stay informed about scientific studies on the adverse health effects of these substances.The physiological, psychological, and social consequences of AAS use pose serious risks to users' overall health and have far-reaching effects on society. Sudden cardiac death, which has been linked to the use of performance-enhancing drugs, is the most common medical cause of death among athletes.This study highlights the public health significance of AAS use disorder, examines the reasons behind its widespread use, and explores its effects on health and available treatment options. Additionally, it underscores the importance of requesting AAS analyses, which are not routinely performed in forensic autopsy procedures, particularly in cases of suspicious deaths among athletes. 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