?Det ska vara rutor på magen och ränder på ryggen? - En kvalitativ intervjustudie med tidigare användare av anabola androgena steroider.
The aim of this study was to explore and try to understand the subject of AnabolicAndrogenic Steroids (AAS) from the users own perspective. Four qualitativeinterviews with former AAS-users was carried out to find out why the informantsstarted and continued to use AAS, and what benefits and disadvantages theyexperienced in relation to their use of AAS. Two of the interviews were conductedby telephone, and the other two in person. One of our main results was that maleusers of AAS in our study tried to attain a higher status in society, which we haveexplained with Connells theory about Hegemonic Masculinity. The two othertheories used in the study are Erving Goffmans Stigma Theory and SystemTheory. We have also found that the users organized themselves in small groupstogether with other AAS-users. The use of AAS was often kept as a secret fromothers, and the groups established their own norms. One interesting conclusionthat can be drawn was that the criminalization of AAS could lead to continued useof AAS. We address the need for further qualitative research because theindividual use of AAS is relatively unexplored.