Steroid use linked to serious side effects among adolescents and young adults

Recent research has found the use of anabolic-androgenic steroids among adolescents and young adults to be associated with serious side effects. The study also revealed that steroid use among this population is relatively common, with up to 25% of steroid users reporting symptoms of dependence. The findings have been published in the journal Performance Enhancement & Health.

The large-scale study analyzed data from over 2,700 adolescents and young adults from the Canadian Study of Adolescent Health Behaviors.

The study found that of the adolescents and young adults surveyed across Canada, 1.6% reported steroid use in their lifetime. Eighty-two percent of those who reported using steroids were men.

Of those who reported using steroids, more than 1 in 4 said they experienced cravings or a strong desire to use steroids again, while 1 in 5 said they used more steroids or used steroids for a longer period of time than initially intended. Nearly 1 in 6 of those who reported using steroids said that they did so despite the recurrent physical or psychological issues that they caused.

The study also found that steroid users were more likely to use marijuana and other illicit substances, such as cocaine, stimulants, MDMA, and psilocybin.

In addition to increasing healthcare professionals' awareness and knowledge of steroid use, the study calls for greater efforts by the Canadian federal and provincial governments to provide funding for steroid use research, education, prevention, and awareness initiatives to support the health and well-being of adolescents and young adults.

Reference:

Ganson, K. T., Hallward, L., et al. (2022). Anabolic-androgenic steroid use: Patterns of use among a national sample of Canadian adolescents and young adults. Performance Enhancement & Health, 100241. DOI 10.1016/j.peh.2022.100241.