**Health**
## Health Warning: Dangerous Performance Enhancers Pervade Social Media, Targeting Young People
**London, UK** – UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) has issued a stark warning following new research revealing a pervasive online trade in dangerous performance-enhancing drugs known as Selective Androgen Receptor Modulators (SARMs), particularly targeting young demographics via social media platforms.
The UKAD-commissioned survey highlights an alarming level of exposure, finding that a significant one-third of individuals aged 16 to 25 encounter advertisements for SARMs on social media every single week. This widespread exposure raises serious public health concerns about the unregulated sale and consumption of these unapproved substances.
SARMs are a class of experimental drugs often illegally marketed as ‘safe’ alternatives to anabolic steroids for muscle growth, fat loss, and performance enhancement. However, they are not approved for human consumption and carry significant, often severe, health risks. These risks include liver damage, cardiovascular issues, hormonal imbalances, and potential long-term, irreversible side effects, many of which are still unknown due to their experimental nature.
The ease of access and anonymity offered by social media platforms have created a fertile ground for the unregulated sale of these substances. Sellers frequently employ misleading marketing tactics, promising rapid results with no side effects, often through sponsored posts and influencer endorsements that bypass traditional advertising regulations.
UKAD is urging the public, especially young people, to exercise extreme caution. They advise against purchasing any unverified health or performance-enhancing products online, stressing that “if a product promises results that seem too good to be true, they almost certainly are.” The organisation also encourages reporting any suspicious sales or advertising of SARMs to relevant authorities to help combat this dangerous online trend.
This research underscores the urgent need for greater awareness and stronger enforcement to protect consumers from the serious health hazards posed by these unregulated compounds circulating freely online.
