The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) will launch an information and education campaign later this year about the significant risks associated with taking illegal anabolic steroids.
Last month, a coroner at the inquest into the death of an 18-year-old issued a warning over the dangers of taking anabolic steroids.
Dr Gerry McCarney, Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist, HSE Addiction Services, Dublin, said that while seizures of illegal anabolic steroids have increased, it is difficult to quantify the number of users.
“While we’re hearing about people using, we’re not hearing about a lot of people using… The common view is that younger people are using steroids, but most of the people using are probably past the age of 18,” Dr McCarney said.
“How many are using? It’s hard to know. Seizures would indicate there’s more coming into the country, but we’re not seeing them at our clinics.”
Last year, 449,411 anabolic steroid dosage units (tablets, capsules, vials, etc) were seized, compared to 109,006 units detained in 2016, according to HPRA figures.
Dr McCarney said there is relevant information available for young people on the HSE website drugs.ie, but cautioned that until greater numbers presented for help, resources would remain focused on other drug problem areas.
Source: Niamh Cahill, The Medical Independent, 23/08/18
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