Over half counterfeit drugs seized were anabolic steroids

Anabolic steroids, increasingly popular among young males to obtain a pumped-up physique, accounted for more than half of the 60,000 counterfeit units of medicine seized in a single week by Irish enforcement agencies in partnership with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA).

The growing use of “roids”, synthetic form of the male hormone testosterone, has lead to calls for a public health awareness campaign to warn young people of the dangers and for sporting bodies to support youngsters to find legitimate ways to work on their physique.

Dr Kieran Harkin, a GP in contact with homeless drug users at Merchant’s Quay Ireland said he was now seeing “big, strong fellows” out in the corridor “who say ‘Hello Doctor’ in quite a posh South Dublin accent”.