Rising number of young men in London injecting steroids

Needle with drop of bloodThe number of young men in London injecting steroids is rising on a “regular basis” a drugs charity has warned.

South Westminster Drug and Alcohol Service said an increasing number of young male clients were seeking support for anabolic steroid use. A similar trend is likely in other UK towns and cities.

Home Office figures show 60,000 people used steroids in the UK in 2014

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence said it was the “tip of the iceberg” and advised gyms to supply sharps bins for needles.

Roy Jones, from the South Westminster service, said: “Our numbers are increasing on a regular basis.

“I’ve been working with steroid users for 16 years and when I first started, the guys taking them were body builders in their 30s.

Easygym have installed sharps bins in all their gyms, while Fitness First, Virgin Active and David Lloyd said some of their clubs also have them.

All the gyms said they had a zero tolerance approach to steroids and the bins were a health and safety measure for diabetic members and the disposal of razors.

We on the Clinical Waste Discussion Forum have been raising awareness of this problem for some considerable time now. Illicit injection habits seem to be centred around the gym, that might also be the location for supply and distribution of the illegal steroid imports. There is no evidence of involvement of the gyms themselves, and this ‘trade’ is very much out of site from the gym operator, for example in the car parks and toilets.

The drug vials may be used several times by one person, or shared between several users. Syringes and needles are readily available, from Amazon and others in a trade that has little if any legitimacy.

The risk of infection and of cross-infection is considerable, and the incidence of Hepatitis C is rising fast in this group. Further risks exist for cleaners and others who are required to remove discarded infection equipment.

A secure sharps container in every gymnasium toilet is now essential. It should be properly managed, and serviced regularly. It is too late to worry about the complaints of those who might object if another public health catastrophe is to occur, blighting yet more young men to a lifelong struggle with Hepatitis C.

 

 

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