The Steroid Trap: Why Young People Are Risking Their Health for Gains

A Closer Look at the Rise of Anabolic Steroid Use Among Young Men and Women—and Why It’s More Dangerous Than You Think

In today's digital age, social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram have redefined beauty standards. Influencers flaunting sculpted physiques set unrealistic expectations, leading many young individuals to believe that such bodies are the norm. This constant exposure has driven some to seek quick fixes, with anabolic steroids becoming a tempting shortcut.

The Alarming Rise in Steroid Use

Recent studies highlight a concerning trend: a significant number of young men and women are turning to anabolic steroids. In a survey of resistance training practitioners, over 53% of men and nearly 42% of women reported using these substances. This isn't just about professional athletes; it's about everyday individuals seeking rapid results.

A total of 3603 men and women resistance training practitioners completed the survey. In the study, 53.05% of men and 41.99% of women used anabolic and androgenic steroids. Of those men who used steroids, 29.47% used Testosterone, while 31.20% of women used Winstrol.

Additionally, 50.30% of men used steroids via injection, while 49.05% of women used them orally. According to the study, 49.99% of the participants had 6 to 12 months of experience with resistance training, and 64.25% of them underwent three training sessions per week. The analysis using the χ2 test did not reveal any significant difference between men and women in terms of duration of bodybuilding, frequency per week, and engagement in other activities.

The Hidden Dangers

While the promise of bigger arms and shredded abs is tempting, the physical and psychological fallout from steroid use is anything but glamorous—and much of it can’t be undone.

Cardiovascular Issues

Steroids fundamentally mess with your heart. They increase low-density lipoprotein (LDL)—the bad cholesterol—and decrease high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the good kind. This imbalance hardens arteries and paves the way to heart attacks and strokes, even in people in their 20s.

According to a Harvard Health report, long-term users often show left ventricular hypertrophy—thickening of the heart’s main pumping chamber—which is a red flag for sudden cardiac death.

In 2022, a study in Circulation found that even moderate steroid use caused endothelial dysfunction, which damages the lining of blood vessels and can trigger life-threatening clots (Circulation Journal).

Hormonal Imbalances

Anabolic steroids are synthetic derivatives of testosterone—and when your body senses too much of it, it dials back its own production. The result? Testicular shrinkage, low sperm count, gynecomastia (yes, that means breast tissue in men), and even irreversible infertility.

In women, the impact is just as severe: menstrual cycle disruption, clitoral enlargement, and voice deepening—changes that often don’t revert after stopping. This isn't just a short-term sacrifice for a six-pack; it's a long-term hormonal war zone. The Mayo Clinic calls steroid use one of the fastest ways to “permanently compromise your body’s ability to regulate itself.”

Psychiatric Effects

This is where things get even darker. Steroids are strongly associated with mood swings, paranoia, aggression (aka roid rage), and even delusions of grandeur. Some users report feeling invincible—until their relationships, jobs, and mental health spiral.

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) warns that prolonged steroid use can trigger depressive episodes so intense they lead to suicidal ideation, especially when cycling off the drugs.

The worst part? These symptoms can persist even after discontinuing use. And because steroid use is still stigmatized or glamorized depending on the crowd, many people suffer in silence.

The Female Perspective

While the stereotypical image of a steroid user is a muscle-bound guy grunting in the gym, more young women are quietly stepping into the same trap. Influenced by online fitness influencers and “fitspo” culture, women are now turning to anavar, clenbuterol, and other performance enhancers to shed fat and “tone up.”

But the side effects are no less brutal: voice deepening, acne, disrupted menstrual cycles, and facial hair growth. These are signs of virilization—a process where women start to develop male characteristics. A recent Australian Border Force report noted a major rise in steroid imports by women, signaling this isn’t an underground issue anymore—it’s mainstream.

And here’s the real kicker: many of these women aren’t even told what they’re taking. Some are given “fat burners” by coaches or trainers that are laced with clenbuterol—a banned substance known to cause heart palpitations, anxiety, and muscle tremors.

The Social Media Fuel to the Fire

Let’s not pretend this trend happened in a vacuum. The steroid surge among young people has been heavily fertilized by social media platforms where aesthetic perfection is the currency, and fitness influencers are the dealers.

Scroll through TikTok, YouTube, or Instagram for five minutes, and you’ll see the same thing: shredded 22-year-olds claiming they’re “natty” (short for natural), flexing in perfect lighting, pushing workout plans, and casually name-dropping sketchy supplements. The pressure to look like that isn’t just coming from some distant fitness model—it’s coming from your own For You Page.

Filtered Reality, Unfiltered Damage

What’s worse? Much of it is a lie. A 2021 study published in Body Image found that exposure to idealized, muscular influencers on Instagram led to increased body dissatisfaction and higher intentions to use appearance- and performance-enhancing drugs (APEDs)—even after just one short exposure.

Platforms like TikTok are especially insidious because of their algorithmic rabbit holes. If a teen watches one fitness video, they’re soon bombarded with more extreme content—‘What I Eat in a Day,’ steroid cycles masked as “supplement stacks,” and influencer gym transformations that quietly gloss over the PEDs behind the gains.

And let’s talk honesty for a second: many influencers refuse to admit they’re on gear. This is known as the “fake natty” problem—and it’s rampant. By faking being natural while clearly reaping the results of steroids or SARMs, influencers contribute to an unreachable body ideal and breed insecurity among viewers who are trying to follow the rules and still not seeing results. Men’s Health even did a full exposé on this, noting that many influencers make money selling the “secret routine” they claim got them jacked.

The Algorithm Doesn’t Care About Your Health

Social platforms are designed to keep users engaged—not safe. As The Guardian recently reported, social media algorithms often prioritize posts that provoke envy, admiration, or controversy.

That’s why over-edited shirtless photos and steroid transformation timelines rack up millions of views, while educational content about the dangers of PEDs gets buried.

And once you’re in that ecosystem, it’s hard to escape. Teens and young adults are especially vulnerable, given that brain regions linked to impulse control and risk assessment aren’t fully developed until around age 25.

Influencers Have a Role—But So Do We

Look, not all fitness influencers are shady. Some are open about their steroid use and make a point to educate their audience. But those voices are few and far between. It’s on platforms, parents, and even the followers themselves to hold influencers accountable. We need better digital literacy and a cultural shift that values health, sustainability, and transparency over fast aesthetics.

Because at the end of the day, no amount of muscle is worth trading for your mental health, hormonal balance, or heart function.

Medical Disclaimer

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. It should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any medical or mental health condition. Always seek the guidance of a qualified healthcare professional or licensed mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, diagnosis, or treatment. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here.