The New York Times looks at how DHEA avoided being placed on the list of controlled steroids. (Quick summary of the Times article, in two words? Orrin Hatch. In five words? Orrin Hatch and Tom Harkin.)
Nevertheless, Senator Orrin G. Hatch of Utah, a Republican who represents a state where many dietary supplements are produced and a longtime champion of herbal remedies, felt strongly last year that DHEA must be kept legal and available as an “anti-aging” pill. Other lawmakers and staff members said he threatened to kill a far-reaching piece of legislation restricting the sale of other steroids, educating children about the dangers of steroids and increasing penalties for illegal use if his colleagues did not agree to include an exemption for it.
Okay, that’s my policy-wonk post for the day. Back to your regularly scheduled programming.