Like the band Dire Straits sings, some just "want money for nothing and their chicks for free". Some also want muscles and their manhood with the means of doing so for free.
Many try and take shortcuts to try and fix their low testosterone or get bigger muscles and a perfect physique. Some try this route instead of going about doing so in a safe and smart manner with investing in themselves via doctor supervised and legal routes with putting in the work required over time to look and feel their best.
- Like Russian Roulette, But with Odds Reversed
- Like Buying Mystery Prizes
- Using Black Market Drugs and Where They Come From
- Penalties to Face if Found Using or Selling
Unfortunately, many falling into this category often and unknowingly put themselves in harms way with the risks they take using lower priced black market hormones or other compounds, thinking they are getting what is stated on said labels and something safe. Sadly, this is rarely what happens in most cases.
As stated in a published study found at ata-journal.org that tested 74 black market steroid products below - Quote:
“Packaging from counterfeits produced in underground labs cannot be visually distinguished from packaging originating from legitimate pharmaceutical companies. Out of 74 labeled products, the content of 25 (33.8%) did not match the label. Anabolic androgenic steroids are commonly found on the black market among bodybuilders, predominantly esterified in oil-based injectables.
Out of 40 steroidal oily solutions, the active ingredients of 21 (52.5%) did not match the label: one preparation did not contain an active compound, 20 contained other or more active ingredients.
The additional compounds were often present in smaller quantities, which could be indicative of contamination. Active ingredients such as methandrostenolone, sildenafil, tamoxifen, quinine, clomiphene, dehydroepiandrosterone, anastrazole, clenbuterol, stanozolol, oxandrolone, liothyronine, finasteride and melatonin were identified in tablets, oral jellies and water-based injectables.”
Like Russian Roulette, But with Odds Reversed
Speaking only for myself and from my experience talking with hundreds upon hundreds of men interested in or on TRT through the years, I have heard more than my fair share of nightmare stories from men that have used black market products because of a much cheaper price versus the legal, safe and doctor prescribed route.
Without giving names or going into detail, I have heard quite a few stories of getting bad batches of black market injectables that quickly led to nasty bacterial infections. So much to where the injection sites had swelled up to the size of golf balls under the skin accompanied by extreme pain, panic and a much needed (and embarrassing) trip to the doctor for some urgent care.
Becoming a statistic like ones highlighted in this story HERE is not something anyone should be willing to roll the dice on.
Another frequent type of story that has happened several times, is hearing (and seeing) estrogen levels that are crazy high off the charts with total testosterone not being anywhere near the level of estrogen. We are talking over 2500 pg/ml on total estrogen and some higher! No B.S. here...
You would think seeing lab results like this, that the product was intended to try and turn a man into a woman vs intentions of a true and safe products with TRT programs with intentions of addressing low testosterone and helping a man feel more manly and balanced.
Who Likes Buying Mystery Prizes?
Sometimes, you may not know if you’re getting anavar or anadrol. For a woman, this can mean the difference between preventing muscle wasting during a restricted diet and keeping a feminine body with anavar or… seeing masculinization characteristics such as an enlarged clitoris or developing an adam’s apple in the neck with a deeper voice with anadrol.
Being tricked into thinking you're taking anavar when you're really taking anadrol is a big difference if whoever is making it in their makeshift DIY lab in the garage doesn't know what they're doing. Or they do, don't care and you're getting ripped off.
Other times, you may not know if you’re getting testosterone cypionate, propionate or delestrogen - which can sky-rocket estrogen levels and do everything opposite of what a man suffering with low testosterone wants.
Unfortunately still for the rest of the lucky ones who don’t get bacteria infections, gyno or gender changing characteristics but still are yet unfortunate buyers, most black market products are all too often just very watered down at best and provide just a small percentage of what the label will claim - if anything, to the person using it.
If you ever talk with someone using say, testosterone cypionate that they get from the black market, they will often state how they’re using something like 500-600mg of testosterone a week.
The reason they are often using such a large amount versus what a TRT clinic would prescribe at 100-200mg a week for great benefits is often because what they are getting is so incredibly watered down, they have to take much more to get any benefit out of the shitty product they have. As for what the majority that shot has in it aside from a small percentage of the stated main ingredient, well - who knows.
In short, if someone has a legit 200mg/ml vial of testosterone cypionate and they take 1ml @ 200mg a week, they should significantly elevate their total testosterone levels well over 1000ng/dl. And, do so without risk of infection or any other unwanted side effects.
There is a reason these counterfeits or watered down black market products are super cheap!
I can’t emphasize enough how many times I have seen lab results of those who did a blood draw while using these products only to be really pissed off to find absolutely zero change in their lab parameters after disappointing blood tests come back.
However, I guess this is better than getting a frightening golf ball size bacterial infection!
Using Black Market Drugs and Where They Come From
Many of these illegal compounds are smuggled in from other countries, stolen from U.S. pharmacies, or produced in secret DIY type home or garage laboratories. Estimates show that there are more than $400 million worth of black-market (illegal) sales of steroids per year
The typical dose of illegal anabolic steroids is usually 10 to 100 times higher than what a doctor prescribes for medical problems. Users often use more than one of these illegal drugs at the same time as well. This is referred to as stacking. Or they may take the drugs in a cycle from no drug to a high dose over a period of weeks to months. This is called pyramiding.
Taking doses to such extremes can contribute to high blood pressure, heart attack, or stroke. Also posing a risk is encouraging higher levels of bad cholesterol (LDL) and lower levels of good cholesterol (HDL) along with an elevated risk of liver disease and possibly liver cancer.
And as mentioned already, skin infections that can become severe if the drug was tainted with bacteria - which unfortunately happens too often due to lack of cleanliness and sterility in DIY set up labs.
Federal Penalties to Face if Found Using or Selling
The Anabolic Steroids Control Act of 1990 defines steroids as a Schedule III drug, and imposes federal penalties for both the illicit possession and sale of steroids. The following are the federal penalties for both possession and sale of steroids:
- Simple possession of steroids with no prior offenses
- Up to a year in federal prison; and/or
- Minimum fine of $1,000.
- Simple possession of steroids with certain prior convictions
- Minimum 15 days in prison, and up to two years in prison; and/or
- Minimum fine of $2,000.
- Possession with intent to sell
- Up to five years in prison; and/or
- Minimum fine of $5,000.
State Penalties:
Each state has the right to enact laws that regulate drugs they view as dangerous. Most states mirror the Federal scheduling of steroids as a Schedule III drug, and thus state penalties usually reflect the penalties for drugs of this classification:
Simple possession can be defined as either a misdemeanor or felony, and one may face jail time of up to 2 years if in a state where steroid possession is deemed a felony. A fine will usually be assessed in states that list steroids as a misdemeanor.
The sale of steroids is a felony in every state, and in some states, the penalty for the sale of steroids can be up to 7 years in prison.
Summary
Sometimes, gambling on occasion with a little bit of money can be something fun for the experience of the casino and any entertainment factor involved. Rolling risky dice with your health and livelihood is something to maybe take a bit more seriously and invest in, rather than gamble with.
When done correctly, legally and responsibly; we can look our best and feel the way we deserve to while having healthy, optimized hormones and be as healthy as possible.
You are here visiting us today for a reason. You are likely a bit ahead of most in regards to addressing and wanting to take care of your health and well-being. Looking for and finding the right answers can be quite a task but we are here to assist you with finding the right solution to look and feel your best.
Fill out our health history form today and let one of our heavily experienced consultants know a good time to discuss the process and more. Shortly, you can be well on your way to a new you!
Have questions? Contact us here >> Contact Us
Stay safe and healthy,
Roger Bowman and the Team at YOUTH-RX
Cited References:
- https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/4c3e/ff02e5f46dc369ce9489b38aa24cebc89636.pdf
- https://www.astm.org/DIGITAL_LIBRARY/JOURNALS/FORENSIC/PAGES/JFS14272J.htm
- https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/f76a/5966073e47c7b4219c6aee89dfa2ba368fd0.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18397575
- https://www.legalmatch.com/law-library/article/steroids-possession-lawyers.html
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5055016/
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10859788
