Riskier anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use has been linked to poorer mental health symptoms, new Griffith University research has found.
PhD Candidate Ben Bonenti from Griffith's School of Applied Psychology examined the mental health and psychological factors associated with higher AAS-related risk amongst people attending alcohol and other drug treatment services.
"The research is important because AAS use, which is increasing globally, is often secondary to other substances and may go unrecognised within standard treatment models," Mr Bonenti said.
"The study examined how depression, anxiety, and impulsivity were associated with different levels of AAS-related risk."
The results showed that individuals in the moderate- and high-risk groups reported significantly higher depression and anxiety symptoms, as well as stronger impulsivity traits.
The research analysed service data from nearly 19,000 adults collected between 2022 and 2025.
Of those, 521 individuals reported AAS use.
Most participants did not present primarily for steroid use, with methamphetamine and alcohol more commonly identified as the main drugs of concern.
Mr Bonenti said the findings suggest AAS-related risk in treatment settings is closely linked to poorer mental health and impulsivity.
"Many individuals who use AAS may not realise that higher-risk patterns of use can co-occur with depression, anxiety, and impulsive tendencies, which means important support needs may be overlooked," he said.
"Routine screening for steroid use, alongside mental health assessment, may help services identify risk earlier and provide more tailored care."
The paper 'Mental health correlates of risky anabolic-androgenic steroid use in Australian alcohol and other drug treatment services' has been published in Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy
