An Ottawa father was taken aback when he discovered that his teenage son had purchased prohibited pharmaceuticals from online sources. He is now cautioning others about websites that he believes are endangering young people.
The father became suspicious as soon as a package arrived at their home in early January. It had been customs-cleared and appeared to contain liquid, prompting his concerns.
The man, who remains anonymous to protect his son’s privacy, shared that his high school son, grappling with body image issues, had been regularly working out at the gym and seeking quicker results. He pointed out that social media is setting unrealistic standards for children regarding their appearance and physical abilities.
The package delivered to their Ottawa residence included an enclomiphene citrate solution, a substance occasionally used as a testosterone enhancer but not authorized for sale in Canada. The son had used his parent’s credit card to order it online and have it delivered discreetly.
Despite being proud of his son’s dedication to fitness and sports, the father expressed disappointment in his son’s decision to seek shortcuts to achieve better gym results. The drugs were labeled as “research material: not for human consumption,” adding to the father’s dismay.
Following the incident, the boy’s mother disposed of the drugs. Health Canada advises against purchasing medication from online pharmacies due to the associated health risks, and the Canada Border Services Agency collaborates with Health Canada to intercept illicit shipments.
Attempts to contact the company that supplied the drugs were unsuccessful. However, the father mentioned that the company agreed to refund the money and ban his son from future transactions on the site. The company clarified that their products are solely intended for research purposes and not for human use, emphasizing age restrictions and terms of sale during checkout.
The father emphasized the need for parents to be vigilant and engage in conversations with their children about the dangers of using unauthorized substances, especially in gym settings.
