An alarming number of deaths are linked to the dangerous practice of injecting paraffin oil to achieve extreme muscle growth, particularly in younger individuals. Chief physician Ebbe Eldrup from Herlev-Gentofte Hospital reports an increase in bodybuilders seeking treatment for severe health complications resulting from this abuse. The hospital, a key treatment center, has seen 305 patients due to paraffin oil abuse and treats a new patient on average every other week, but believes unreported cases are even more numerous.

Six deaths in recent years are directly attributed to paraffin oil injections, alongside other fatalities where the substance contributed to the cause. These victims are often young people in their 30s, experiencing severe and irreversible kidney damage. Experts estimate that between 2,000 and 5,000 individuals in Denmark have used paraffin oil to rapidly enhance muscle size, often alongside anabolic steroids.

Paraffin oil, intended for industrial uses like fuel, lubricants, and candle production, is injected using tools like caulking guns. Other oils like sesame, coconut and olive oil are also sometimes abused. The first known death in Denmark occurred in 2018 when a 21-year-old bodybuilder died after injecting three liters of paraffin oil. Two additional deaths were reported last summer: a 34-year-old man and a 39-year-old man from Midtjylland, both succumbing to kidney failure induced by paraffin oil.

Herlev Hospital is pioneering treatments, including the use of Methotrexate, a drug typically used for arthritis, which has shown promise with fewer side effects. Severe cases may require surgical removal of oil-infused tissue, often resulting in “tissue decay” or “dead flesh.” One patient, Kenneth Beer Hansen, underwent two operations to remove significant amounts of paraffin oil from his forearms, resulting in improved comfort and hand function. Further surgeries are planned for his upper arms.

The severity of the health issues has sparked political discussion in the Danish Parliament, with efforts to establish a national center of expertise for abusers of anabolic steroids and paraffin oil. While the Minister for the Interior and Health believes existing healthcare frameworks are sufficient, Maria Durhuus, the Social Democratic Party’s drug abuse spokesperson, plans to renew efforts to secure support for a specialized center, emphasizing the need for increased knowledge, information, and comprehensive care for affected individuals.