The statistics on steroid use among Asian teens is increasing according to Gurvinder Aujla of BBC Asian Network News. His interview with drug workers in Bradford and Luton revealed that there is a growing number of young Asians using steroids to build up muscles and achieve a perfect body. The increase in steroid use is not only confined to Welsh men as previously discussed in our blog. This even prompted lawmakers in UK to implement stricter laws on anabolic steroids. Anabolic steroids are classified as Class C drugs. Steroids are not illegal to possess but it is illegal to sell them in UK without proper prescription.

According to John Bolloten, the number of Asians using the needle exchange center has jumped from about 5% to between 25% and 30%. Balloten who is a needle exchange coordinator in Bradford said young teens were now “primarily using steroids” as compared to teens using street drugs. It is also alarming since steroid users visiting his center were getting younger. “It worries us because the people who are coming forward to use needle exchanges are becoming younger, so we seeing people at their late teens to mid 20s - they are forming a big percentage,” he said.

Another center in Luton also reported a significant increase in Asian men using steroids. They said that about 84% visiting their center are Asians taking steroids.

The increase in steroid use is attributed to too much pressure on teenagers to look good. Most of these teens are not into professional sports. Barry Langleyman of Bridge agreed on this saying that it is an easy fix for young teens. They easily get what they want; bigger muscles, stamina and endurance. “They see it as an easy fix, and they won’t have to put as much effort into their training. It does increase their performance in the gyms - they can lift bigger weights, their stamina increases and endurance,” he said. Langleyman is a specialist harm reduction worker at the Bridge, a drug treatment charity in Bradford. The charity also noted that most of these teens purchase steroids online. Some of their personal trainers or friends are also the common source of steroids which were imported from other countries like Pakistan.

Langleyman is worried about the ignorance of young teens on the use of steroids. “They don’t see it as drug use, they see it as a supplement to training regime. They will often go into a shop thinking you can buy them over the counter,” he said. Young teens are already into a steroid cycle or taking these drugs for longer period before they come to their center. “The practice around here is people who sell it will give them the first few injections. By the time they come to us, they’ve spent their money, so to try and pull them back from that is very, very difficult,” Langleyman added.

Abu, a steroid user in Bradford attests to Langleyman’s statement. In an interview by Aujla of BBC, Abu said that if he stopped he would not feel as good or great about himself. “A lot of girls come to you and look at your biceps - it can be quite flattering at times,” he said. He also becomes depressed if not into training. “It’s that image, everyone wants to look good, look the part, I always wanted to look good, have the six pack, the biceps and big calves,” Abu added.

When he was still on his teens, Abu is a skinny average teenager who wanted to beef up and build muscle just like his brothers who are also using steroids. Now at 26, he is on a high protein diet and works out everyday. He’s been using steroids for 8 years now.

Anabolic steroids are usually taken orally or through injections. These increases testosterone levels in the body, which then helps muscles absorb protein and boosts muscle growth.

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