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Steep increase in Limerick steroid-users seeking needle exchange

An addiction and outreach service says there’s been a rise in younger steroid-users coming forward.

INCREASED NUMBERS OF steroid-users are seeking out needle exchange services in Limerick, according to an addiction service which offers outreach support in the city and surrounding counties.

The increase observed by Ana Liffey Drug Project Mid-West reflects a nationwide trend. A number of indicators point toward a rise in unregulated use of anabolic steroids across Ireland in recent years.

“We’re definitely seeing more people – whether that’s because of better education and better engagement because of that, or whether it’s an increase in people using steroids I’m not sure,” Rachel O’Donoghue, team leader of ALDP Mid-West, said.

The organisation, which has operated in Dublin since the early 80s, set up in Limerick six years ago. And while there had been a handful of steroid users who sought out the service for clean injecting equipment, there’s been a steep rise in demand over the last two to three years – particularly from a younger age group.

Said O’Donoghue: “I think it’s always been there – but I think that people weren’t as open to engaging with the services for their needle exchanges. You always had a few people that were into the power-lifting and the competitions – people that were using them a long time. Definitely, recently, we’re seeing more young people arrive for an exchange.”

Around 20 different men who use the injecting equipment solely for steroids and body-enhancing drugs now engage with the outreach team regularly.

Some are in their early 20s and play GAA or rugby, while other regular users are weightlifters aged in their 30s or 40s. 

They would talk as well to us about younger people … and there is that whole image – that ‘Instagram life’ – a lot of the guys who are involved in the competitions would give out about people that are purely there for taking pictures.

There was also a steep increase in demand from young women, several years ago, for needles to inject Melanotan – a drug that prompts the body’s production of melanin and increases tanning.

That kind of disappeared again – but it was a similar thing in that it was young people and it was all about their image.

Unsafe

Steroid-users often don’t see themselves as an at-risk group, O’Donoghue said – and a lack of education in safe injecting practices has, in recent times, led to people developing abscesses and other infections.

Weightlifters, for instance, would sometimes keep one needle in their locker – reusing it until it became blunt and rusty.

“Our recommendation is you use a needle once and if it punctures your skin once – if it punctures anything once – it needs to be thrown away.

If you put it under a microscope you would see it turns into a little hook, so it would do damage straight away to your skin and create abscesses. We’ve heard of young people developing very serious abscesses and having to go to doctors, and picking up other infections from needles not being cleaned.

TheJournal.ie went along with an outreach team from ALDP Mid-West on one of their regular needle exchange circuits of the city this week.

Steroid-users are by no means the organisation’s primary focus. Its aim is to help chaotic drug users who may be addicted to heroin, benzodiazepine-based sedatives or other psychoactive substances (there’s been an increase in availability of crack-cocaine in the city in recent years, for instance). 

Last year, the Mid-West organisation engaged with over 250 people with addiction issues, including the 20 or so steroid-users. 

That smaller cohort tend to have a vastly different profile to that of other service-users, in that they generally have homes and full-time jobs.

20180907_102221 A supply of syringe barrels, needles and other paraphernalia packed for distribution around Limerick. Daragh Brophy / TheJournal.ie Daragh Brophy / TheJournal.ie / TheJournal.ie

One weightlifter, who arranged to meet with O’Donoghue and her team in a car park on the outskirts of the city, explained to us that he injected steroids as part of a 12 week programme coming up to competition time – twice per year. 

He knew others who took them more regularly, and said many of them had experienced mood-shifts and other problems as a result of their steroid use. He asked for 200 needles – enough for injections every day of his 12 week plan.

“We mightn’t see him for six months – that might be the way it goes,” O’Donoghue explained.

It gets very busy before the summertime too. People getting ready for the holidays and things like that – but generally it’s coming up to competitions you see more people.

Growing trend

The misuse of steroids has been linked to a range of side effects – including cardiac disease, blood clots, headaches, depression, aggression, irritability and stomach pain.

Nationally there’s been a dramatic increase in seizures of illegally obtained steroids over the last three years – from 38,049 dosage units in 2015 to 449,411 last year. 

The situation in Limerick has been mirrored elsewhere in the country.

In 2016, the Dublin-based drugs and homelessness service Merchants Quay Ireland opened a dedicated service away from its main drop-in centre to accommodate steroid users who may have been wary of mixing with heroin and other drug users. 

The previous year, a review of the pharmacy-based needle exchange programme found that after heroin, steroids were the most common drug injected by clients.

Commenting earlier this year on the increased number of seizures, John Lynch, director of compliance with the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), warned that “the abuse and misuse of anabolic steroids can have serious consequences for the long-term health of the individuals who take them”.

We would urge anyone using illegally sourced anabolic steroids to stop doing so and to seek advice from their healthcare professional if they have any concerns about their health.
Ana Liffey Drugs Project is hosting town hall events entitled ‘Towards a health-led approach to possession of drugs’ in Limerick and Galway this week. 

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    Mute Brian Dunne
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:46 AM

    Told the wife I booked a table for 7 30. She was excited and got all dolled up. Seemed disappointed when we got there though, I thought she liked snooker.

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    Mute offside again
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    Feb 14th 2025, 3:00 PM

    @Brian Dunne: I thought my wife liked football and didn’t mind me drinking beer. Simple mistake to make.

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    Mute Larry Betts
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    Feb 14th 2025, 4:28 PM

    @Brian Dunne: Cue the jokes about ‘that sinking feeling’

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Feb 14th 2025, 6:36 PM

    @Larry Betts: …and which colour to go for!

    5
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    Mute Larry Betts
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    Feb 14th 2025, 7:24 PM

    @Pat Barry: Kissing the pink for the day that’s in it

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    Mute thomas molloy
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:56 AM

    Many couples have to work long hours to pay mortgages that they sometimes have to schedule “Dates” to go somewhere nice and organise babysitter if they have children. It’s normal.

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    Mute Dramafree 2023
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    Feb 14th 2025, 12:04 PM

    @thomas molloy: I am confused why the mortgage is mentioned? Is this relevant to a date? I mean cant one have a date night at home, feed the kids first, put them to bed and cook a nice meal to enjoy together. Doesnt have to be expensive just had to be a priority.

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    Mute Setanta O'Toole
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    Feb 14th 2025, 1:51 PM

    @Dramafree 2023: you’d need a bloody mortgage to go on a date these days, amirite fellas?

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    Mute Me Me
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    Feb 14th 2025, 2:43 PM

    @Setanta O’Toole: No. A walk on a beach is free.

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    Mute Karen Marten
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    Feb 14th 2025, 3:35 PM

    @Setanta O’Toole: especially on valentines

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    Mute offside again
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    Feb 14th 2025, 12:17 PM

    Journalists noticed an empty seat is an otherwise packed stadium for a derby and got curious. They asked the man next to it did he know why ?
    “Oh, it was for my wife”
    “She couldn’t make it to the match ?”
    “Unfortunately she died”
    ” So sorry to hear that, very sad. You should have brought a friend to share the the experience, no ; maybe ?”
    “No, I couldn’t do that ; they’re all at the Funeral.”

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    Mute den
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    Feb 14th 2025, 2:03 PM

    @offside again: ah the auld ones are….. the auld ones!!

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    Mute Carl Valderrama
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:41 AM

    This website is serious garbage lads, my goodness.

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    Mute Ger Whelan
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:52 AM

    @Carl Valderrama: Took you more than 6 months to realise that?.

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    Mute mcleixlip
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    Feb 14th 2025, 12:44 PM

    Ah ha ha….all the perpetually single blokes with lots to say. Hope you all got some Nivea hand-cream for Valentine’s.

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    Mute Dan The Man
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:48 AM

    I meant to tell her Darling when I look into your eyes time just simply stands still but I stumbled at the last minute and said jaysus your face would only stop a bleedin clock.

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    Mute gav0kelly
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:49 AM

    @Róisín Flemping Bunt-Himmler: Travellers have influence?

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    Mute Larry Betts
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    Feb 14th 2025, 8:48 PM

    @Róisín Flemping Bunt-Himmler: Which Wards are they?

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    Mute Dan The Man
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:52 AM

    She was good from far …….but yet far from good!

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    Mute David O Brien
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:59 AM

    Love is in the air….. apparently

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    Mute Andrew Kenny
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:53 AM

    In the words of Donald Trump: What a st##d question!

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    Mute Andrew Kenny
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:53 AM

    @Andrew Kenny: st###d

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    Mute Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson
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    Feb 14th 2025, 12:03 PM

    @gav0kelly: flatulence, that’s why the smellies are at it again

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    Mute Sea Spirit
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    Feb 14th 2025, 12:06 PM

    @gav0kelly: Did you know county councils have a caravan loan scheme specially for travellers.

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    Mute Francisco O brien
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:30 AM

    If their just friends

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    Mute Stephen Heffernan
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    Feb 14th 2025, 12:24 PM

    @Francisco O brien: You typed four words and still managed to get the grammar wrong.

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    Mute Paddy C
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    Feb 14th 2025, 9:42 PM

    What’s actually mad at the moment is the amount of lads I know that don’t want to get in relationships is getting more common and by that I don’t mean staying single sleeping around. Just avoiding contact with women altogether and having peace of mind and freedom very surprised by the trend that’s growing now.

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    Mute Breda Clarke
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    Feb 15th 2025, 1:44 PM

    My husband and myself still go on dates after 34 years of marriage. We make an effort to dress well and have dinner out once a month. It’s important to still make an effort for each other.

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    Mute martin finnegan
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    Feb 14th 2025, 5:00 PM

    If in relationship for long time love each other going to find time to do stiff and so shouldn’t the once off rip of costs of valentine’s day. As know especially in hospitality sector ripoed off on ordinary day. Love love but we usually go out week before or something valentine’s day is money racket

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    Mute Sea Spirit
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    Feb 14th 2025, 12:05 PM

    @Róisín Flemping Bunt-Himmler: No wonder insurance companies riddle us.
    Nonsense carry on, she should have been barred.

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    Mute Helena Camella Cummins
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    Feb 14th 2025, 3:15 PM

    How on earth can you be in a committed relationship and still be shopping around? Catch a grip.!!!

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    Mute Gavin Smartr
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    Feb 14th 2025, 1:30 PM

    Anything to stipe her from cooking!

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    Mute Gavin Smartr
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    Feb 14th 2025, 1:31 PM

    @Gavin Smartr: stop

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    Alan
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    Mute Alan
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    Feb 14th 2025, 1:09 PM

    @Kieran Conroy: yeah. Get with it. Date r.pe jokes are where it’s at.

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    Alan
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    Mute Alan
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    Feb 14th 2025, 1:10 PM

    @Alan: apologies. Reply was to Larry Smiths hilarious joke.

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    Mute Kieran Conroy
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    Feb 14th 2025, 1:39 PM

    @Alan: Exactly that. A JOKE. You wokists don’t have a sense of humour it seems.

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    Mute Jack Hayes
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    Feb 14th 2025, 3:07 PM

    @Kieran Conroy: That’s incorrect. Using the made-i up word ‘wokists’ is hilarious. Hilariously stu pid.

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    Mute Kieran Conroy
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    Feb 14th 2025, 4:39 PM

    @Jack Hayes: Are you offended Jack? Oh dear, you appear to be a fully paid up member of the wokist club…

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    Mute Concerned Driver
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    Feb 14th 2025, 11:48 PM

    Yes. It’s called a date night.

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