Harm reduction is a concept originally developed by healthcare professionals to help minimize the side effects of drug abuse. Acknowledging the existence of illegal drugs in today's society, harm reduction practitioners aim to cooperate actively with users, providing them with appropriate techniques to reduce the health risks associated with drug abuse. The goal of harm reduction is to help you without judging you. Initially focused on drug abuse, harm reduction principles can and should be used to assist steroid users who lack full medical support. By following these principles, you can reduce the negative health impacts of steroid use and make the process safer.

Principles for Reducing the Harm of Anabolic Steroid Use

1. Avoid Fake and Underground Products

   Steroids produced by illegal underground manufacturers are often of poor quality, leading to health risks more severe than the side effects of steroids themselves. Even if the product contains genuine steroids in sufficient dosages, it may be contaminated with toxic heavy metals, bacteria, viruses, or other harmful substances. Pharmaceutical purity is guaranteed through an expensive, lengthy, systematic process and government regulation. Underground manufacturers have neither the economic nor the logical incentive to produce high-purity drugs. Fake and underground products should not be used as substitutes for genuine pharmaceutical products and should be avoided whenever possible.

2. Be Cautious with Hepatotoxic Oral Steroids

   Apart from Andriol, Primobolan, and Proviron, other oral steroids discussed are C-17aa compounds and should be used within safe dosage limits. While these drugs can be prescribed for various medical purposes, athletes using high doses can experience serious negative health effects, most notably an increased ratio of bad cholesterol to good cholesterol, leading to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease over time. C-17aa steroids are also highly hepatotoxic and even associated with liver cancer. If you can use injectable forms and have moderate muscle and performance goals, you should opt for injectables. Note that injectable versions of some oral steroids, like stanozolol and methandrostenolone, still pose similar risks to the liver and cardiovascular system.

   Therefore, please use oral steroids within safe standard dosages, do not exceed recommended amounts, and use liver protection supplements (such as Milk Thistle) and fish oil (note: fish oil, not cod liver oil) when taking oral steroids.

3. Prioritize Testosterone

   Testosterone is one of the most effective anabolic steroids for muscle growth and has the lowest side effects when used to enhance muscle mass and performance. It closely resembles the hormones naturally produced by our bodies. Testosterone also remains one of the best anabolic steroids, promoting libido, maintaining a positive mindset, and providing necessary estrogen to prevent cholesterol levels from worsening.

4. Use the “Safest” Drugs

   If using a single testosterone injection doesn’t work, cautiously add other drugs. For injectable steroids, consider using those with the least cardiovascular impact, such as Deca-Durabolin, Durabolin, Boldenone, and Primobolan. For oral steroids, consider Andriol, Primobolan, and Proviron, as they do not belong to the C-17aa category and thus are less harmful to the liver and cardiovascular system than other common oral steroids like stanozolol, oxandrolone, dianabol, and winstrol.

5. Use Health-Promoting Supplements

   Natural supplements can help reduce the health risks of steroid use. First, cholesterol-regulating supplements, with fish oil being fundamental, can be complemented with other medically researched substances like green tea, garlic powder, resveratrol, phytosterols, niacin, and policosanol. Molecular Nutrition's mixed product, Lipid Stabil, includes these components. These cholesterol-regulating supplements should be used throughout the entire steroid cycle. Second, for those using hepatotoxic oral steroids, liver protection is recommended. Products like Molecular Nutrition’s Liver Stabil, Himalaya Drug Company’s Liv-52, and Aventis’s Essentiale Forte should be used during cycles involving hepatotoxic drugs.

6. Cycle Your Steroids

   Typically, a steroid cycle lasts six to twelve weeks, followed by an equal or longer period off all steroids. This approach has several benefits. Firstly, using exogenous androgens reduces natural testosterone production; cycling can minimize long-term fertility and hormonal issues caused by continuous steroid use. Secondly, cycling allows cholesterol levels, hematocrit, blood pressure, and other health markers to return to normal, preventing more severe negative changes from long-term use.

7. Use Reasonable Dosages

   More steroids do not necessarily result in more muscle growth. For those without extreme goals, weekly injectable doses should be limited to 1000 milligrams. For example, 500 milligrams of testosterone enanthate per week is at least four to five times the natural production of a healthy male. Such dosages, combined with proper training and diet, are sufficient for significant progress. In the 70s and 80s, weekly doses of 500-900 milligrams were standard for bodybuilders using testosterone, nandrolone, boldenone, and primobolan. Higher doses, even up to 1200 milligrams weekly with additional oral steroids, are rarely necessary. Higher doses may yield faster results but also come with greater side effects.

8. Avoid Aromatase Inhibitors (AI)

   Aromatase inhibitors counteract estrogenic side effects by blocking estrogen production. The problem is that the body lacks a crucial hormone for cardiovascular health. Estrogen helps produce good cholesterol, so using AIs can increase cardiovascular strain during cycles. If estrogenic side effects occur and the problematic drug cannot be stopped, Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs) like Tamoxifen are an option. These drugs work in the liver to counteract estrogen without causing cholesterol issues.

9. Regular Blood Tests

   Comprehensive blood tests, including hormones, cholesterol, hematocrit, and enzymes, are used to assess the side effects of steroid use. For example, changes in cholesterol levels can quantify the cardiovascular impact of a cycle, helping users decide whether to repeat the same cycle. Blood tests should be done at least three times: before the cycle, three to four weeks after the cycle starts, and a few months after the cycle ends. The purpose is to:

1. Provide a comparison before and after.

2. Monitor health status during the cycle.

3. Assess if natural homeostasis is restored after the cycle.

10. Use Correct Injection Methods

Steroids are meant for intramuscular injection. Common sites include the upper outer quadrant of the buttocks, upper outer thigh, and deltoid. Avoid injecting into areas like the biceps, triceps, and calves to cover defects; these areas are hard to access and prone to problems. Keep injection volumes within a comfortable range, generally not exceeding three milliliters. Rotate injection sites and avoid frequent injections in the same muscle. Ensure hygiene by disinfecting needles and skin with alcohol, and properly dispose of needles and vials after use.

11. Sterilize

If you must use underground lab products or inject drugs made from other tablets, do not skip sterilization and disinfection steps.