Anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids are drugs that some people use to build muscle, improve strength, or enhance sports performance. They are illegal to possess or supply without a prescription.

In the UK and across the North West, anabolic steroids are often known by street or gym-based names such as:

  • Steroids

  • Roids

  • Gear

  • Juice

  • Test (short for testosterone)

Anabolic steroids are very different from corticosteroids, which are commonly prescribed by doctors for medical conditions such as asthma or inflammation.

What do anabolic steroids look like?

Anabolic steroids usually come in:

  • Tablets

  • Liquids that are injected into muscle

Products bought outside of medical settings vary widely in quality, strength and safety.

How do people use anabolic steroids?

Anabolic steroids are taken in cycles, often alongside intense exercise or bodybuilding routines. Some people inject them, while others take tablets.

Many people use doses far higher than those prescribed medically, sometimes 10 to 100 times more. This greatly increases the risk of harm.

Some people, including younger people, use steroids to change how they look or feel about their body, without fully realising the risks.

How anabolic steroids can make you feel

Some people report that anabolic steroids:

  • Help them train harder or longer

  • Increase muscle size and strength

  • Speed up recovery after exercise

However, they can also cause unwanted physical and emotional effects, even over a short period of time.

Changes in behaviour and mood

Anabolic steroids can affect mood and behaviour.

Some people experience:

  • Irritability or agitation

  • Paranoia

  • Aggression or violence

  • Sudden mood swings

These effects can strain relationships and, in some cases, lead to harm to the person using steroids or those around them.

How long steroids stay in the body

How long anabolic steroids stay in the body depends on how they are taken.

  • Oral steroids can be detected in urine for up to 14 days

  • Injected steroids can be detected for up to one month

Effects can last well beyond the point of stopping use.

Risks to physical health

Using anabolic steroids carries serious risks, especially with long-term or high-dose use.

If you are young, steroids can interfere with normal growth and development.

For men, risks can include:

  • Shrinking testicles

  • Erectile problems

  • Breast tissue growth

  • Hair loss

  • Acne

  • Reduced fertility

For women, risks can include:

  • Deepening of the voice

  • Increased facial or body hair

  • Hair loss on the head

  • Changes in sex drive

  • Menstrual problems

  • Enlargement of the clitoris

For everyone, steroids can increase the risk of:

  • High blood pressure

  • Liver damage or liver failure

  • Heart attack or stroke

Risks from injecting steroids

Injecting steroids carries additional risks, including:

  • Vein damage

  • Abscesses, ulcers and infections

  • Gangrene

  • Blood-borne viruses such as HIV and hepatitis C if equipment is shared

Poor injecting technique or reusing equipment increases these risks.

Mental health risks

Steroid use can have a strong impact on mental wellbeing.

Risks include:

  • Anxiety or paranoia

  • Depression, especially when stopping

  • Sleep problems

  • Aggression or violent behaviour

Some people experience withdrawal symptoms after stopping, including headaches, tiredness and low mood.

Quality and counterfeit products

Steroids bought on the black market are often:

  • Counterfeit

  • Substandard

  • Incorrectly labelled

  • Missing active ingredients

This makes it impossible to know what you are actually taking, increasing the risk of harm.

Dependence and stopping

People can become psychologically dependent on anabolic steroids, meaning they feel driven to continue using despite negative effects.

Stopping suddenly can lead to:

  • Low mood or depression

  • Fatigue

  • Loss of motivation

Support can help people stop safely and protect both physical and mental health.

Staying safer

If someone is using anabolic steroids, harm reduction steps include:

  • Avoiding injecting where possible

  • Never sharing needles, syringes or injecting equipment

  • Using sterile equipment every time

  • Taking breaks and avoiding continuous cycles

  • Paying attention to mood, sleep and mental health

  • Seeking medical advice if experiencing concerning symptoms

If you feel unwell or notice significant mood or physical changes, seek medical help. Getting help will not get you into trouble.

Support from Wirral Ways

Wirral Ways offers free, confidential support for people affected by anabolic steroid use, including people who inject performance-enhancing drugs.

We can help with:

  • Non-judgemental one-to-one support

  • Harm reduction advice and equipment

  • Safer injecting support

  • Blood-borne virus testing and advice

  • Mental health and wellbeing support

  • Support to stop or reduce use safely

Support is shaped around your goals and what matters to you.

Worried about someone else?

If you are concerned about a friend, partner or family member, you can contact us for advice and support. You do not have to handle this alone.

Get support

You can contact Wirral Ways to access support:

  • Self-refer online

  • Speak to a member of our team

  • Visit one of our services

Support is available, and help is there when you’re ready.

Last Updated on 4 February 2026