Better luck next time, Jimmy Olsen

Yesterday, Dagbladet reported that an increasing number of young men use or have tried anabolic stereoids. A study done by the University of Bergen shows that close to 10 000 boys/young men between the ages of 16 and 19 have tried anabolic stereoids. Here's the illustration the newspaper chose to show next to a story on anabolic stereoids:

Couple of things; the newspaper blurb did not cite the original study or provide the context, thus rendering the information absolutely useless. For example; 10 000 kids where? In Bergen, in one gym or world-wide? I think that makes a difference, being that 10 000 is a high number for one gym or one city, but nothing worldwide. What time perspective was the study done over? Did the study actually come up with 10 000 people who use or have used anabolic stereoids (kind of ties in with over how long the study was carried out and what geographical area was considered), or was it extrapolated from a small-scale study? As it stands now, it might as well have read "15 people drive red cars".

But the worst part of this piece of "journalism" is the illustration. The story is about anabolic stereoids, right? So wouldn't it be logical that the accompanying illustration had something to do with illegal performance-aiding supplements? You'd think so, but not the summer intern (I sincerely hope) who write this piece. The illustrations show two completely legal, over-the-counter sports supplements you can get at almost any health food store or gym. Granted, they're mostly snake oil (one being an extract from apple skin) and it's dubious whether they have any actual function, but they have nothing to do with anabolic stereoids. Thanks for creating even more stigma for people who actually buy supplements. This is right on par with a story a couple of years back wherein the reporter claimed that manufacturers put stereoids in their protein powders so that people think there is a link between protein intake and muscle growth. Kudos. 'Cause excluding the fact that the companies who sell protein powder actually have to report product tests to the government, it'd be fantastic business to put stereoids (orals, I presume) in protein powders which sell for ~300 NOK per kg. Yeahhhhhhh......

I respectfully decline the invitation to join your hallucination. Better luck next time, Jimmy Olsen.