Suddenly, it seems, steroids and athletic supplements have become a big issue.

Several high-profile players, such as Minnesota Vikings’ Cory Stringer died in recent years to supplement- and steroid-related causes. Both ephedra and androsterine were banned in recent weeks.

Congress suddenly took a high interest in supplements and steroids, holding hearings.

It’s big, right?

“Let me tell you what’s going to happen. What’s going to happen is we’re going to forget about this,” said UNCW professor Mike Perko, who has been studying teenagers using steroids and supplements for over a decade. “There has been a cycle in the last 15-20 years. What needs to be done, the recognition that these lobbyists are influencing our politicians.”

Perko decried what he saw as the power of the supplement industry’s lobbying to keep what he feels are dangerous supplements on the open market.

“Hell, you can buy them in gas stations. It’s a $20 billion industry. Unfortunately, no government agencies can regulate it,” Perko said. “The dietary supplement lobby is second in power and influence only to the NRA.”

Steroids, which helps build muscles, are often prescribed by doctors for various ailments. Athletes use non-prescribed, black-market steroids to help promote muscle growth. The substances also create side effects such as excessive production of hormones, mood swings, high blood pressure, among other things.

“Steroids are prescription drugs, and they’re prescription for a reason,” Perko said. “There’s lots of evidence that the downside of taking of steroids. We’re talking use over a period of time. There’s a greater incidence of … heart disease, liver and cancer problems. We know this for a fact. We don’t know about dietrary supplements, in our culture they’ve only been around since the 90s.”

The dangerous potential side effects of androstenedione and ephedra forced them off the market, but Perko finds little comfort in the government’s recent steps.

“It was good news/bad news when ephedra was banned, but the bad news was that there’s 3,000 (supplements) still on the market,” Perko said. “They made a big deal taking one drug off, and the problem is, in my opinion is they missed the boat, they didn’t change the law to market the drugs without testing.”

Perko wants stronger regulation of supplements. Right now he feels the government’s hands are tied up.

“You have to get beyond the issue of drugs people are taking,” Perko said. “When a new drug is put on the market there are side effects. We don’t rely on doctors on whether they should be on the market. But we go to medical ethicists, (who investigate if) the benefits outweigh the side effects? The same should be for supplements.”