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Original poster

What on earth do I do?

22 replies

Cakeonthefloor · 02/10/2024 18:56

Just discovered my son is taking steroids. A delivery arrived and I opened by accident to discover lots of syringes. I then looked in his room and found steroid vials. He is 16. I would never have believed it. What do I do?

OP posts:
JumperStripes · 02/10/2024 18:57

Sit down and talk to him in a calm manner. I’d also look into how he is funding it and how much of the dangers he is actually aware of.

Original poster
Cakeonthefloor · 02/10/2024 18:59

It was his birthday recently so I assume he spent his birthday money on it. He is out and does not know I know although I guess he will realise he missed his delivery.

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Original poster
Cakeonthefloor · 02/10/2024 19:01

Should I take the syringes etc? If so, what do I do with them? Give them to a chemist but the steroids are illegal. Will they take them?

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Singleandproud · 02/10/2024 19:04

Pero ally I would take both. Whose to know what is actually in the vials and messing with syringes is less than great.
I'd then have a proper chat about what they were trying to achieve. Do they want a gym membership, protein powder etc

Original poster
Cakeonthefloor · 02/10/2024 19:11

He has a gym membership and protein powder. He has been going to the gym regularly for the last year but tailed off over the summer. He started going again a couple of weeks ago.

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Original poster
Cakeonthefloor · 02/10/2024 19:13

I have hidden everything. His big sister is going to talk to him when he gets in. I will talk to him when I feel more rational.

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Sassybooklover · 02/10/2024 19:22

Steroids are not good. They may help bulk a man up with muscle but they can cause lots of long-term issues. Ask him why he feels the need to take steroids? If he wants to create a good physic, then suggest he finds a personal trainer, who will help him with nutrition, weights etc, and he can gain muscle safety and with proper guidance. Offer to help him find a personal trainer. Yes, a personal trainer needs to be paid. He could find himself a weekend job, to help fund it. May be you could (if money allows) offer to help him a little with the cost. Lots of males become disheartened, when they don't see the results they were wanting at the gym. It's usually due to not really understanding the process of gaining muscle.

Original poster
Cakeonthefloor · 02/10/2024 19:49

He is very tall and very strong already. He has talked about professional body building when he is older. I am devastated. I will suggest a personal trainer, that is a good idea.

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Original poster
Cakeonthefloor · 02/10/2024 21:24

I had a talk to him. He won't accept there are any side effects. He says I don't know what I am talking about. He is very angry and says that he will just get more.

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FusionChefGeoff · 02/10/2024 21:39

Presumably you can't get these on prescription of over the counter?! Ask him what that might suggest about their use?!

There will be loads of YouTube documentaries about misuse can you research and send him some relatable (ie young male body builders) stories about the dangers??

Ineedanewsofa · 02/10/2024 21:56

Does he actually know what he is taking? Does he know how to inject safely? How is he disposing of sharps? Who is ‘prescribing’ for him? At 16 I’d be focussed on these immediate concerns as if he’s not injecting safely he could do real damage, real quick. Sounds like he may have fallen in with some dodgy body builders at the new gym.
You say he’s very angry, this is a classic symptom of steroid use! It’s probably also worth making him aware that steroids are not the way to go if he ever wants to maintain an erection for more than 30 seconds…

beardediris · 02/10/2024 22:01

I’m an HCP I’m not going to go into too many details but I saw a young man doing this he’d made himself very unwell. I asked him where he’d got the steroids from they were being sold at his gym by a personal trainer!!

PaminaMozart · 02/10/2024 22:08

Have him look at Caroline Girvan on YouTube. If a 5' 2" woman, who is totally clean and healthy living, can work out with the weights she uses, without steroids, he can too. Lots of people - including many men, judging by the comments!! - find her totally inspiring.

HoppityBun · 02/10/2024 22:08

Dont steroids shrink testicles and make men grow breasts? There probably stuff on YouTube. But he probably won’t believe you. I sympathise with your fears
https://www.mensjournal.com/food-drink/heres-what-steroids-actually-do-your-body

Freakydeak · 02/10/2024 22:10

Tell him bluntly he will never have a sex life if he takes them. What a prospect at 16.

StormingNorman · 02/10/2024 22:10

The culture in some gyms is really geared up towards “supplements”.

Could you research some body builders who have since come clean about their experience with steroids? He might be more accepting of people who have walked the path he aspires to.

Freakydeak · 02/10/2024 22:11

There's a female bodybuilder on Instagram/tiktok who denies using steroids but she has basically gone from an attractive woman to a woman with male characteristics (male jaw, voice and shoulders) it's sad to see.

Wallywobbles · 03/10/2024 04:51

At uni my flatmate took steroids. His dick shrank and he was scarily agressive.

frozendaisy · 03/10/2024 05:55

If talking to him is getting no where I would go and talk to my GP and ask what they suggest.

LoveHartnett · 03/10/2024 09:32

I know a 35 year old who has had several heart attacks due to his steroid abuse, his partner has left him, he barely sees his children. He has severe mental health and aggression issues. I know these things seem so distant to a 16 year old but they are such awful, dangerous things to take. OP I really feel for you.

LoveHartnett · 03/10/2024 09:33

Apologies for not adding anything constructive but I have a 14 yo DS and it is a worry

Original poster
Cakeonthefloor · 03/10/2024 18:15

Thanks for all your replies. He bought them online. As I managed but luckily to intercept the package, I don't think he has taken any yet. Or if he has not many. He knows everything and I know nothing so he won't listen to anything about risks or dangers. I can limit his money which should hopefully limit him. The way he talks it sounds like he has body dysmorphia. He hates the way he looks and that goes above any long term health concerns.

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