Objective: To evaluate the effects of an appearance programme in preventing the misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids among male adolescents in a primary health care area in Sweden.
Methods: Attitudes to steroid hormones among 16-17 years old male and female adolescents are discussed. A well-established anonymous multiple-choice questionnaire was answered by 921 adolescents and statistically analysed.
Results: The misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids tended to decrease after the intervention.
Conclusions: The misuse of androgenic anabolic steroids did not increase, and even tended to decrease, after the intervention, indicating that drug-abuse among male adolescents can be decreased through discussions about appearance and attitudes. Repeat and prospective studies have to be done before this intervention programme can be generalised.