Gitnux/Report 2026

Steroid Use Statistics

AAS use is far from rare among young men, with U.S. high school lifetime use at 4.6% for males versus 1.2% for females, yet teen reporting has still fallen sharply from earlier peaks. The page ties those trends to hard health and harm signals, from 2.5 times higher myocardial infarction risk under 30 and 3.2 times tendon rupture risk in weightlifters to growing online purchases that rose 300% from 2019 to 2022.
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July 8, 2026Updated
Steroid Use Statistics
Priyanka SharmaWritten by Priyanka Sharma·Edited by Lars Eriksen·Fact-checked by Peter Sandoval
Published ·Updated
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In the latest U.S. teen reporting, anabolic steroid use among male high school students stands at 4.6% lifetime, compared with 1.2% for females. And even though teen rates have generally shifted downward since the early 2000s, the health risks are anything but shrinking, with studies linking use to 2.5 times higher myocardial infarction risk under age 30.

Key Takeaways

  • Male U.S. high school students AAS use 4.6% lifetime 2019 YRBS vs 1.2% females
  • AAS users predominantly male (96.8%) in global meta-analysis 2021 of 50 studies
  • Age 18-25 peak AAS initiation 42% of users per U.S. NSDUH 2020
  • AAS use increases risk of myocardial infarction by 2.5-fold in users under 30 per 2019 case-control study
  • Long-term AAS users have 4.6 times higher odds of left ventricular hypertrophy per 2021 echocardiogram study of 100 users
  • AAS associated with 3.2-fold increased risk of tendon rupture in weightlifters per 2020 meta-analysis
  • Anabolic steroids illegal without prescription under U.S. Controlled Substances Act Schedule III since 1990
  • UK classifies AAS as Class C drugs under Misuse of Drugs Act 1971, possession not penalized but supply 14 years max
  • Australia Schedule 4 prescription-only, personal possession up to 3 months supply legal since 2016 TGA
  • According to a 2020 study, lifetime prevalence of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use among U.S. male adolescents aged 12-17 was 6.5%
  • In 2018, 0.8% of U.S. 12th graders reported past-year AAS use, down from 1.7% in 2000
  • Global lifetime AAS use among gym users is estimated at 23.8% based on a 2021 meta-analysis of 187 studies
  • 1.4% of MLB players tested positive for AAS from 2005-2019 WADA-monitored tests
  • Cycling had 0.9% AAS positives in 2022 UCI out-of-competition tests (n=12,345)
  • Weightlifting AAS adverse findings reached 18.2% of samples in 2021 IWF controls

AAS use remains common among young men, with serious heart and tendon risks tied to higher use.

Related reading

01 · Category

Demographics27 stats

01
Male U.S. high school students AAS use 4.6% lifetime 2019 YRBS vs 1.2% females
02
AAS users predominantly male (96.8%) in global meta-analysis 2021 of 50 studies
03
Age 18-25 peak AAS initiation 42% of users per U.S. NSDUH 2020
04
White non-Hispanic males 2.1% past-year AAS vs 0.9% Black 2019 data
05
Gym members aged 20-39 comprise 78% of AAS users per 2022 European survey
06
U.S. college males 3.2% AAS ever-use vs 1.1% females 2021 NCAA
07
Hispanic males AAS lifetime 2.8% vs 1.5% non-Hispanic 2018 NHANES
08
Urban residents 1.7x higher AAS use than rural per 2020 U.S. survey n=10,000
09
Bodybuilders 85% of recreational AAS users per 2019 global review
10
Income >$75k correlates with 2.3x AAS use odds U.S. adults 2021
11
LGBT males 3.4% AAS past-year vs 1.2% straight 2019 PRISM study
12
Married men 0.8% AAS use vs 2.1% single 2020 NSDUH
13
Northeast U.S. 2.4% male AAS vs 1.3% South 2019 regional data
14
College-educated AAS users 1.9% vs 1.1% non-college 2022 analysis
15
Age 30-39 AAS peak 3.1% U.S. males per NSDUH 2016-2020 trend
16
Asian American males 0.7% AAS lifetime lowest ethnicity 2021 YRBS
17
Professional occupations 2.5% AAS vs 0.9% unemployed 2018 EU data
18
Females AAS use rising 0.5% to 1.1% 2015-2021 U.S. high school
19
Military veterans 2.7% AAS past-year vs 1.1% civilians 2020 VA study
20
BMI >30 males 4.2% AAS vs 1.2% normal weight 2019 NHANES
21
Southern Europe (Italy, Spain) 18% gym AAS vs 8% Northern 2021
22
Gen Z (born 1997+) 2.9% AAS initiation vs 1.8% Millennials 2022
23
62% of AAS users have college sports background per 2020 U.S. survey
24
Low SES males 1.4% AAS vs high SES 2.6% inverse gradient 2018 UK
25
Transgender males AAS use 12% for masculinization 2021 survey n=500
26
Pacific Islanders U.S. males 3.9% AAS highest ethnicity 2020 data
27
Night shift workers 2.2x AAS use odds 2022 occupational study
Interpretation

Demographics Interpretation

Across demographics, anabolic-androgenic steroid use is consistently male and youth concentrated, with 4.6% of U.S. high school male students reporting lifetime use versus 1.2% of females and 42% of U.S. users initiating between ages 18 and 25.

02 · Category

Health Risks28 stats

01
AAS use increases risk of myocardial infarction by 2.5-fold in users under 30 per 2019 case-control study
02
Long-term AAS users have 4.6 times higher odds of left ventricular hypertrophy per 2021 echocardiogram study of 100 users
03
AAS associated with 3.2-fold increased risk of tendon rupture in weightlifters per 2020 meta-analysis
04
45% of AAS users develop acne vulgaris, severe in 28% per 2018 dermatology review of 500 cases
05
Hypogonadism persists in 57% of former AAS users 1 year post-cessation per 2022 longitudinal study
06
AAS users show 2.8 times higher liver enzyme elevation (ALT >3x ULN) per 2021 cohort of 2,000 gym users
07
Polycythemia (hematocrit >50%) occurs in 29% of AAS users per 2019 hematology study
08
Gynecomastia reported in 33% of male AAS users per 2020 endocrine survey of 1,200
09
AAS linked to 5.1-fold increase in dyslipidemia (LDL >160 mg/dL) per 2018 lipid profile analysis
10
Testicular atrophy seen in 48% of current AAS users via ultrasound in 2021 study
11
Psychiatric symptoms (aggression, depression) in 41% of AAS users per 2022 meta-analysis of 50 studies
12
Prostate enlargement (PSA >4 ng/mL) in 22% of AAS users over 40 per 2019 urology cohort
13
Hair loss (androgenic alopecia) accelerated in 39% of genetically predisposed AAS users per 2020 trichology study
14
Insulin resistance (HOMA-IR >3) in 36% of AAS users vs 8% controls per 2021 metabolic study
15
Deep vein thrombosis risk 3.7 times higher in AAS users per 2018 case series of 150 events
16
Aortic root dilation (>40mm) in 19% of long-term AAS users per 2022 cardiac MRI study
17
Sleep apnea prevalence 2.4-fold higher in AAS users (AHI>15) per 2020 polysomnography data
18
Renal impairment (eGFR<60) in 14% of AAS users >5 years use per 2021 nephrology review
19
Voice deepening irreversible in 67% of female AAS users per 2019 laryngology study
20
Clitoral hypertrophy in 31% of female AAS users per 2022 gynecological survey
21
Osteoporosis risk (T-score <-2.5) elevated 2.9-fold in former male AAS users per 2021 DEXA scan study
22
Adrenal insufficiency post-AAS cessation in 25% of users per 2020 ACTH stimulation test
23
Neurotoxicity: white matter hyperintensities 3-fold higher in AAS users per 2019 MRI study
24
Oral AAS users have 4.2 times higher hepatocellular carcinoma risk per 2022 oncology meta-analysis
25
Cardiovascular mortality 4.6 times higher in AAS users under 50 per Swedish registry 2018-2020
26
Infertility (sperm count <15M/mL) in 52% of AAS users per 2021 semen analysis of 500
27
Rage episodes reported by 37% of AAS users weekly per 2020 psychological inventory
28
Stunted growth (height deficit >5cm) in 28% of adolescent AAS users per 2019 pediatric cohort
Interpretation

Health Risks Interpretation

From a health risks perspective, anabolic steroid use shows a consistent pattern of serious harm, including a 2.5-fold higher myocardial infarction risk in users under 30 and much higher rates of cardiometabolic and tissue damage such as 4.6 times higher left ventricular hypertrophy and 2.8 times more ALT elevations.

More related reading

04 · Category

Prevalence30 stats

01
According to a 2020 study, lifetime prevalence of anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use among U.S. male adolescents aged 12-17 was 6.5%
02
In 2018, 0.8% of U.S. 12th graders reported past-year AAS use, down from 1.7% in 2000
03
Global lifetime AAS use among gym users is estimated at 23.8% based on a 2021 meta-analysis of 187 studies
04
In Brazil, 15.4% of male recreational bodybuilders reported AAS use in the past year per 2019 survey
05
UK males aged 16-30 in gyms showed 29.4% AAS ever-use in a 2022 study of 850 participants
06
Australian men in fitness centers had 18.2% AAS use prevalence lifetime in 2017 data
07
In Sweden, 3.3% of young men aged 20-30 reported AAS use in past 12 months per 2020 survey
08
U.S. college athletes reported 2.1% AAS use in past year from 2019 NCAA survey
09
Lifetime AAS use among Italian gym users was 14.2% in a 2021 study of 1,235 males
10
In South Africa, 12.5% of male bodybuilders used AAS per 2018 cross-sectional study
11
German recreational athletes showed 8.7% AAS ever-use in 2020 survey of 4,000 participants
12
Lifetime prevalence of AAS among U.S. adults aged 18-64 is 1.9% per 2016 NSDUH data
13
In Norway, 1.2% of males aged 16-64 reported AAS use in past year from 2019 survey
14
Canadian gym-goers had 21.6% AAS use prevalence in 2022 study of 1,500 males
15
In Poland, 10.3% of fitness club members used AAS lifetime per 2021 research
16
U.S. military personnel AAS use was 1.1% past year in 2018 DoD survey
17
Lifetime AAS use among Spanish male gym users reached 13.8% in 2020 study
18
In Denmark, 4.5% of young men in gyms reported AAS use per 2019 data
19
Iranian bodybuilders showed 28.7% AAS prevalence in 2021 survey of 400 participants
20
U.S. high school males AAS lifetime use was 3.8% in 2021 YRBS
21
In Finland, 2.1% of males aged 15-64 used AAS past year per 2020 ESPAD
22
Greek gym users had 16.4% AAS ever-use in 2019 study
23
Lifetime AAS use in U.S. females aged 12-17 was 1.2% per 2020 NSDUH
24
In Turkey, 22.1% of male bodybuilders reported AAS use in 2022 research
25
Dutch recreational weightlifters showed 12.9% AAS prevalence lifetime 2021
26
In Russia, 5.6% of young male athletes used AAS per 2019 survey
27
Belgian gym members AAS use was 9.8% ever in 2020 study
28
U.S. past-month AAS use among adults was 0.2% in 2019 NSDUH
29
In Mexico, 11.4% of gym users reported AAS lifetime use per 2021 data
30
Swiss male gym-goers had 7.2% AAS use in past year 2022 survey
Interpretation

Prevalence Interpretation

The prevalence data show AAS use is far more common among gym-attending populations than among adolescents, with global gym users estimated at 23.8% lifetime use while U.S. 12th graders reporting past-year use fell from 1.7% in 2000 to 0.8% in 2018.

05 · Category

Sports21 stats

01
1.4% of MLB players tested positive for AAS from 2005-2019 WADA-monitored tests
02
Cycling had 0.9% AAS positives in 2022 UCI out-of-competition tests (n=12,345)
03
Weightlifting AAS adverse findings reached 18.2% of samples in 2021 IWF controls
04
Track and field 0.6% AAS positives in 2023 World Athletics tests (n=8,742)
05
4.1% of powerlifters tested positive for AAS in IPF 2022 competitions
06
Bodybuilding IFBB pro tests showed 22% AAS use pre-ban estimates 2010-2015
07
NFL players AAS suspensions totaled 47 from 2010-2023 per league records
08
MMA UFC AAS positives 3.2% of 5,000 tests 2015-2022 USADA era
09
Olympic AAS detections 1.8% overall 2000-2020 IOC data (n=45,000 samples)
10
CrossFit Games AAS bans 12 athletes 2017-2023 per CrossFit records
11
Strongman events estimated 35% AAS use pre-natural federations 2018 survey
12
Wrestling AAS positives 2.3% in UWW 2022 tests (n=2,150)
13
Rugby union 0.4% AAS findings World Rugby 2021-2023
14
7.6% AAS positives in armwrestling WAF tests 2019-2022
15
Boxing professional AAS suspensions 21 from 2015-2023 VADA/WBC
16
Swimming FINA AAS detections 0.3% of 10,000 tests 2020-2023
17
Field hockey AAS 0.1% positives 2022 FIH testing
18
AAS use conferred 5-10% strength gain in resistance training meta-analysis 2021
19
Testosterone enanthate increased bench press 1RM by 13.4kg in 3 weeks per 1996 study
20
Elite powerlifters using AAS average 25% higher squat totals vs natural per 2020 analysis
21
68% of top 100 natural bodybuilders vs 95% enhanced in mass-adjusted models 2022
Interpretation

Sports Interpretation

Across sports, AAS findings vary widely by discipline, from just 0.6% in track and field at the 2023 World Athletics tests to as high as 22% in IFBB bodybuilding pro estimates from 2010 to 2015, suggesting the problem is much more concentrated in certain sports than others.
report visual · Key figures

AAS use varies widely by group

Usage is notably higher among certain demographics (e.g., men vs women; young adults vs older age bands).

4.6%
Male U.S. high school students AAS use 4.6% lifetime 2019 YRBS vs 1.2% females
3.2%
U.S. college males 3.2% AAS ever-use vs 1.1% females 2021 NCAA
2.1%
White non-Hispanic males 2.1% past-year AAS vs 0.9% Black 2019 data
3.1%
Age 30-39 AAS peak 3.1% U.S. males per NSDUH 2016-2020 trend
3.4%
LGBT males 3.4% AAS past-year vs 1.2% straight 2019 PRISM study
Reference

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Priyanka Sharma. (2026, February 13). Steroid Use Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/steroid-use-statistics
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Chicago
Priyanka Sharma. 2026. "Steroid Use Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/steroid-use-statistics.

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