Soldiers on Steroids

Literally. Rodger Payne notes the unsurprisingly under-reported but surprisingly voluminous trade in steroids and other drugs to private contractors and US soldiers in Iraq. Rodger cites the American Council for Drug Education on one of the main side-effects in the short-term:

Use of steroids can increase muscle mass, strength, and endurance, but can also cause liver tumors, jaundice, water retention, and high blood pressure. Some users show bad judgment because the drugs make them feel invincible. Other users suffer from uncontrolled aggression and violent behavior called “Roid Rage”, severe mood swings, manic episodes and depression. They often suffer from paranoid jealousy, extreme irritability and can have delusions.