Shocking Revelations from UQ's ROIDCheck: 90% of Illicit Steroids Unsafe

The University of Queensland's (UQ) groundbreaking ROIDCheck program has pulled back the curtain on Australia's shadowy black market for image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs), particularly anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS). In a year-long study analyzing 212 samples submitted by 50 participants, researchers discovered that nearly 90 percent contained unexpected, incorrect, or outright dangerous substances. Only one in 10 samples matched their labels, highlighting a crisis in product quality that poses severe threats to users nationwide.

Led by Dr. Timothy Piatkowski from UQ's Centre for Health Services Research, ROIDCheck chemically tested samples using advanced techniques at Griffith University's Analytical Facility. This initiative, funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC), aimed to provide harm reduction through education and surveillance. However, a Queensland government ban on drug checking in September 2025 shifted the program to aggregate data only, limiting direct feedback to users but preserving vital public health insights.

As steroid use surges— with hospital presentations rising nearly 40 percent from 2015 to 2023—universities like UQ are at the forefront, bridging research and policy to safeguard communities.

Deep Dive into Study Findings: Mislabeling and Substitution Epidemic

Of the 212 IPED samples, 15.2 percent of AAS specifically were mislabeled—containing unexpected actives, missing ingredients, or none at all. One alarming case revealed trenbolone enanthate, a potent veterinary steroid for livestock, not approved for human use in Australia due to its extreme toxicity. Trenbolone, far stronger than human-approved testosterone, can trigger rapid organ damage and hormonal chaos.

Samples varied wildly: injectables, orals, and raw powders showed substitutions like trestolone acetate for testosterone enanthate, or lower-than-expected doses in 75 percent of tested products. This variability stems from underground production, often imported powders from China brewed at home or sold online without oversight. For users chasing muscle gains, these roulette-like products amplify risks beyond standard AAS side effects.

Dr. Piatkowski noted, "Our findings flag limited consumer knowledge, even in individuals that have actively engaged in drug checking services." This underscores the need for expanded university-driven testing to empower informed choices.

Toxic Heavy Metals: A Hidden Poison in Black Market Steroids

Earlier analysis of 28 AAS samples by the same team exposed heavy metals like lead, arsenic, cadmium, and aluminum across injectables, orals, and powders. While single doses fell below permissible daily exposure (PDE) limits, frequent use—weekly injections or multiple daily orals—pushes cumulative intake into dangerous territory.

• Lead: Up to 3.10 μg/g in orals, linked to cognitive decline, anemia, heart disease.
• Arsenic: 0.09–3.42 μg/g, cancer risk.
• Cadmium: Renal damage, hypertension.
• Aluminum: Neurotoxicity concerns.

Concentrations in injectables averaged 1.57 μg/mL lead, exceeding safe levels with repeated dosing. Cancer seizures doubled from 5,600 (2019-20) to 11,200 (2023-24), signaling a booming illicit trade fueling these contaminants. For more on the study, see the full paper Lead Astray?.

Beyond Steroids: Cardiovascular, Liver, and Mental Health Perils

Illicit AAS inherently disrupt hormones: testosterone surges boost muscle but ravage hearts (enlarged left ventricle, clots), livers (peliosis hepatis, tumors), and minds ('roid rage,' depression, psychosis). Women face virilization—deep voices, hair growth—while men endure infertility, gynecomastia. Contaminants compound this: metals accelerate neurodegeneration, carcinogens heighten cancer odds.

Griffith University research shows younger men (<40) suffer more psychosocial harms (anger, depression) and physical issues (hair loss, fertility), plus healthcare barriers. Older users fare better, likely from experience and networks. Prevalence hovers 1-3% lifetime, higher in gyms (up to 20-30%), with same-sex attracted men elevated.

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Rising Tide of Steroid Use: Stats Paint a Worrying Picture

Australia's AAS epidemic is exploding: National Drug Strategy Household Survey notes 40% rise in recent use (2016-2022), hospital admissions up similarly. Seizures doubled; online sales evade borders. Adolescents: 1.1% lifetime; gym-goers far higher. Stigma deters medical help—37% seek physician support, per meta-analysis.

Black market thrives on powders from Asia, home-brewed without purity checks. UQ/Griffith studies urge surveillance amid no national guidelines for cessation.

Queensland's Testing Ban: A Setback for Harm Reduction

September 2025 legislation banned individual drug checking, halting ROIDCheck's direct feedback despite NHMRC funding. Dr. Piatkowski negotiated under Medicines and Poisons Act for continuation via aggregate data. Critics decry it as life-endangering; advocates push reversal for evidence-based policy.

Similar bans risk lives elsewhere; universities lobby for science-led approaches. Read UQ's full report here.

University Innovations: ROIDCheck and Beyond

UQ's Centre for Health Services Research, with Griffith and partners like The Loop Australia, pioneers AAS testing. Collaborators: Queensland Injectors Health Network. Future: National rollout, peptide testing, gym collections. Griffith's psychosocial study tailors interventions for youth.

These efforts position Australian unis as harm reduction leaders. Aspiring researchers, check research assistant careers.

Stakeholder Perspectives: Users, Experts, Policymakers

Users report poor quality (10-20% wrong actives); experts like Piatkowski stress education. Government seizures rise, but bans hinder intel. Lived-experience advisors shape ROIDCheck for cessation support.

Balanced views: Criminalization limits care access; testing empowers. Unis advocate policy integration.

Path Forward: Solutions and Actionable Insights

Expand testing nationally; educate via gyms/events. Users: Test batches, cycle safely, monitor health. Policymakers: Fund surveillance, decriminalize checking. Unis drive trials, training.

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Photo by Jordy Chapman on Unsplash

Implications for Higher Education and Public Health

UQ/Griffith exemplify unis' role in tackling societal ills. NHMRC grants fuel impact; students contribute via labs. Future: AI purity checks, longitudinal cohorts.

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