IMAGE AND PERFORMANCE ENHANCING DRUGS SERVICE

Advice on anabolic steroids and other IPEDS

• Needle exchange

• Safer injecting advice

• Injection site examination

• Dry blood spot testing

• Blood pressure and weight monitoring

• Advice on diet, nutrition and health

• Condoms

Harm reduction advice

The safest advice we can give is don’t use them, they can cause a wide range of side effects (see below)

• Anabolic steroids should be taken in cycles (taking them for a number of weeks then stopping to allow your body to recover

• ‘On’ cycles should be limited to 6-8 weeks

• The ‘Off’ cycle should be at least as long as the ‘on’ cycle

• Reduce your dose (as you increase your dose, any benefits are marginal but the risk of side effects increase dramatically)

• Do not stack steroids (taking 2 or more steroids at once).  The benefits are limited and you are much more likely to experience side effects.

• Take cholesterol supplements such as fish oil or Lipid Stabil

• Have blood tests taken before and after your cycle to check the harm the steroids may be doing to your body

• Get tested for blood borne viruses such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and HIV

• Get yourself vaccinated against Hepatitis B

• Check that you know what you are taking.  Up to a third of anabolic steroid products are counterfeit or fake.  Is the label not straight? Does the label have rough edges?  Are there air bubbles under it? Is the print faded?  Is the liquid cloudy?  Are the levels of liquid different in each amp?   If you answer YES to any of these, it could well be fake, don’t use it.

• Be very wary of information on steroids from online sellers and forums, it can often be misleading

Side effects

Safer Injecting

There are complications associated with injecting drugs such as localised pain, swelling, heat, developing abscesses and there is always the danger of hitting a nerve, vein or even an artery.  On top of this, if you use needles and other equipment that have been used by someone else, you are at risk of contracting a blood borne virus such as Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C or HIV.  The safest thing you can do is don’t inject, don’t use anabolic steroids.

If you continue to inject, ensure that you:

• Always use a new, sterile needle

• Never share any needles or other equipment

• Always dispose of used equipment in a sharps bin

• Always inject your self rather than let others do it

• Always inject into the quadriceps, gluteus or deltoids (see link to leaflet below for diagram)

• Rotate your injecting sites

• Inject a maximum of 2mls in to the glutes or quads

• Inject a maximum of 1mls in to the deltoids

  You can find details of where you can access needle exchange in the East Riding by downloading the leaflet below

Bulking up naturally

• Get a good, well researched training plan and stick to it.  You can get great advice for free at East Riding Council leisure centers from the fitness instructors when you take a membership

• Ensure you are following a good diet, with a healthy balance of protein, fibre, carbohydrates and healthy fats

• Increase calorie intake

• Eat 6-8 small meals a day for a constant supply of fuel

• Drink at least 2 litres of water daily

• Get at least 8 hours sleep