Fears of hidden steroid abuse by males

A person has sought medical help for health problems caused by serious steroid abuse once every nine days so far this year amid fears of a hidden crisis among young men. New figures show 162 people contacted hospitals or GPs due to steroid abuse since 2011 — with the rate increasing in the second half of the decade.

According to official HSE statistics, in 2011, 2012 and 2013 a total of 11, 13 and 19 cases were formally registered, the equivalent of one incident every three weeks to a month across the country. However, they have since risen sharply, with 28 cases in 2015, 20 in 2016, 24 in 2017, 17 in 2018 and 13 up to April this year.