Need advice from social worker or psychologist

[PanickingParent]

A few months ago, I discovered my son (17 years) was taking steriods. I referred him to CAMHs who involved social services. My son refused to engage with either initially but then decided to become involved to 'get them off his back' so he could go back to taking steriods. Social services did an investigation but recommended CAMHs and did not take on the case. Son told CAMHs a load of nonsense and they signed him off. He has started taking steriods again and I don't know how to get help. He would not engage with either organisation again. Would social services consider it serious enough to force him to engage (Child protection plan)? I am utterly devastated. He knows all the risks but doesn't care.

Yes boys are subject to the same body issues as girls wanting to look a certain way etc.
A lot of boys go through this phase and for many it just passes. Others become ‘Stoners’ and this often passes too.
Providing a stable network around him and space to talk is all you can do.

I brought him creatine and prework out supplements when I thought he was just going to the gym. He has refused a personal trainer as he feels he knows more about exercise than they would. His teenage 'I know everything' attitude is a big barrier to him accepting support.

Ah yeah I feel your pain. My DS also know everything too, it would seem.
Does he have a good friend who goes to the gym with? It may be worth speaking to their mum? It's just a case of finding the route in, ideally from someone who will say this will basically shrink your balls and render you inferiltile long term.

He just does not care about the effects on his bits. I do feel that if he had a girlfriend, he would feel differently.

They dont all get those side effects on their genitalia or sex life either so some use it as proof that there's no issue with taking them

The cousins that are abroad, could he be sent to live with them for a while, are they good people? Could he work abroad for a year building up a bit of a life.

He doesn't really know them well. I don't think he would go. He would say he is happy with his life here. He likes being near the gym and his friends. Also he has another year of school before his A-levels.

Look he's nearly 18 and you won't be able to do anything much about this after then.
Meet him half way, acknowledge his need to look good. Talk to him about who he's listening to and where he's getting his workouts from. Find out what's driving this. Then do your research, look up these influencers, see if you can find out what they are saying about steroids. Maybe find out how steroid use can be done more safely and then just say look dude if you're going to do it, then do it this way.
It's very hard OP I agree

I Imagine it was MASH’d not assessed.
And CAMHs would have picked it up as I think there was mention of an Overdose in one of OP updates. Wouldn’t come near their threshold either, obviously.
Substance misuse service definitely tho.

Unfortunately he's too old for much to be done and will soon be 18 and there will be no way to force him into anything. I had a child at 16 and moved out just a couple of years ago, 16+ is pretty much considered an adult in the uk

It must be extremely frustrating for you op if he's not listening to you what does his dad think of all this? Seeing as it's a male thing he might listen to his dad better

What you can do is impose rules in YOUR home. Tell him you can't stop him from ruining his health when he lives on his own but under your roof he's not allowed to do drugs/take steroids. Give no pocket money and nothing of value and don't let him have access to your money. If he steals from you you make a police report. Make sure everyone in your family knows about his addiction so not to give him money. Talk to his gym and see if they have someone there who can talk sense to him (lika someone he looks up to).

Well I would stop him, youve worked really hard to educate him

I’d take everything out his room worth money and have every room locked so he couldn’t steal anything. I’d replace his clothes with 5 cheap t shirts, tracker bottoms, supermarket trainers.

sometimes you have to go all in 🤷‍♀️and saving your kids testicles seems like the time

I genuinely think he would kill himself if I did that. It is a mental health issue that is driving it all, I feel.

I have to say, he has never stolen anything.