”Det ska vara rutor på magen och ränder på ryggen” - En kvalitativ intervjustudie med tidigare användare av anabola androgena steroider.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to explore and try to understand the subject of Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) from the users own perspective. Four qualitative interviews with former AAS-users was carried out to find out why the informants started and continued to use AAS, and what benefits and disadvantages they experienced in relation to their use of AAS. Two of the interviews were conducted by telephone, and the other two in person. One of our main results was that male users of AAS in our study tried to attain a higher status in society, which we have explained with Connells theory about Hegemonic Masculinity. The two other theories used in the study are Erving Goffmans Stigma Theory and System Theory. We have also found that the users organized themselves in small groups together with other AAS-users. The use of AAS was often kept as a secret from others, and the groups established their own norms. One interesting conclusion that can be drawn was that the criminalization of AAS could lead to continued use of AAS. We address the need for further qualitative research because the individual use of AAS is relatively unexplored.