Articles

Key takeaways

• Anabolic steroids are synthetic medicines that copy the effects of testosterone.
• Steroids are used by doctors to treat hormone problems or muscle loss and they can be used to build strength and muscle mass.
• Short-term side effects of steroids are mood changes, long-term effects are heart problems or cancer.
• Anabolic steroids are illegal in every State and Territory in Australia unless prescribed by a medical professional

What are Steroids?

Steroids are a broad class of organic chemical compounds characterised by a specific core structure of four linked carbon rings. They occur naturally in the body and can also be manufactured as synthetic medications.

Anabolic steroids are synthetic hormones that imitate male sex hormones such as testosterone. They are sometimes misused to increase strength, muscle mass and enhance athletic performance.  This is because they assist with muscle growth, increase strength and decrease recovery time.

The Australian National Drug Strategy Household Survey of 2019 found that between 2001 and 2019, non-medical anabolic steroid use almost tripled, reflecting the increased prominence of steroid use.  

What Do Steroids Do?

Anabolic steroids have a chemical composition which activates the body’s testosterone receptors, which has two effects:

• Anabolic (muscle growth, maintain bone density, and improve recovery time);
• Androgenic (also known as ‘masculinising’ as it develops and maintains male characteristics such as the penis, testicles, muscle mass, deeper voice and increased facial hair).

How do anabolic steroids work?

Anabolic steroids copy the effects of testosterone on your body.

What are anabolic steroids used for?

Doctors prescribe anabolic steroids to treat hormone problems, such as:

• delayed puberty in males
• low levels of testosterone
• to replace muscle lost because of medical conditions such as cancer, AIDS or anaemia.

Steroids are also used by athletes and body builders to:

• build lean muscle
• increase strength
• decrease recovery time following an injury

How can you take anabolic steroids?

You can consume anabolic steroids as:

• a gel, liquid or patch for topical use on your skin
• an injection
• tablets that you swallow

Side Effects of Steroids

Short-term side effects of anabolic steroids include:

• mood swings and aggression
• male pattern baldness
• water retention and bloating
• interrupted sleep
• fatigue
• changes in libido
• acne on both face and body

• decreased breast size (in females)
• irregular periods (in females)
• deeper voice

• shrunken testicles, decreased sperm production and infertility (in males)
• growth of breast tissue, also known as gynaecomastia (in males)
• involuntary erections, also known as priapism (in males)
• prostate problems

Long-term side effects of anabolic steroids include:

• liver damage
• high blood pressure and high cholesterol
• depression
• heart attack and stroke
• kidney or prostate cancer
• stunted growth
• premature bone and skin ageing
• accidental nerve damage if injected improperly.

Anabolic steroids are not inherently addictive, however, many people who use steroids for aesthetic reasons my become addicted to the confidence and self-esteem that comes from it.

The use of anabolic steroids are more likely to result in side effects if their use is not supervised by a medical professional.

Are Steroids illegal in New South Wales?

Anabolic steroids are illegal in New South Wales under Schedule 1 of the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW).

The maximum penalties for supplying steroids are based on the quantity of the drugs. The small quantity is 50g, the traffickable quantity is 500g, the commercial quantity is 750g and the large commercial quantity is 5kg.

Supplying steroids less than commercial quantity carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment and/or a $220,000 fine.

Supplying steroids greater than the commercial quantity but less than large commercial quantity carries a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment and/or a $385,000 fine.

Supplying a large commercial quantity of anabolic steroidal agents carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and/or a $550,000 fine.

Possessing anabolic or androgenic steroids without a prescription carries a maximum penalty of up to 2-years imprisonment and/or a $2,200 fine.

Anabolic and androgenic steroidal agents were reclassified in 2014 from prescription drugs under the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (NSW) to prohibited drugs under the Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW). This was so that the maximum penalties could be increased due to the prevalence of the steroids in the community.

Are peptides legal in Australia is a more complicated question as they are governed by the Poisons and Therapeutic Goods Act 1966 (NSW).

A specialist drug lawyer will be able to advise you about your legal obligations and whether you have violated any laws.

Are Steroids illegal in Queensland?

Steroids are illegal in Queensland under Drug Misuses Act 1986 (QLD).

Schedule 1, Part 2 of the Drugs Misuse Regulation 1987 (QLD) lists testosterone, trestolone, androstenediol, drostanolone, ethyldienolone, and any other anabolic and androgenic steroidal agent as dangerous drugs.

Possessing steroids carries different maximum penalties depending on the quantity:

• less than 50 grams, 15 years imprisonment;
  • between 50 grams and 5kg and the Court is satisfied that the defendant was a drug dependent person, 20 years imprisonment;
  • between 50 grams and 5kg but the Court is not satisfied that the defendant was a drug dependent person, 25 years imprisonment.
  • 5kg or more, 25 years imprisonment.

A ‘drug dependent’ person is defined in the Act as someone who, as a result of repeatedly taking dangerous drugs, demonstrates impaired control over their continued use of dangerous drugs. They also must suffer, or be likely to suffer, mental or physical distress or disorder if the administration of dangerous drugs ceases.

Supplying steroids in Queensland carries the following maximum penalties:

• Supply without any aggravating features, 20 years imprisonment;
  • Aggravated supply, 25 years imprisonment;
  • Supplying steroids to a child under 16 years old, life imprisonment.

Steroid use statistics in Queensland reveal that over half of all drug arrests related to steroids (58%) occurred in 2014-15. It continues to account for the greatest proportion of national steroid arrests, with 47% occurring in Queensland in 2020-21.

Are Steroids illegal in Victoria?

Anabolic steroids are illegal in Victoria under the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 (VIC).

Possessing steroids for personal use without a prescription carries a maximum penalty of 1 year imprisonment and/or a fine of 30 penalty units.

Possessing steroids for the purpose of trafficking carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and/or a fine of 400 penalty units.

Trafficking or attempting to traffic anabolic and androgenic steroidal agents carries a maximum penalty of 15 years imprisonment. If the trafficking at a school or in a public place within 500 metres of a school, the maximum penalty increases to 20 years imprisonment.

If it involves an amount of anabolic and androgenic steroidal agents not less than the commercial quantity (5kg), a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment is applicable.

‘Trafficking’ is defined in the Act as preparing steroids for trafficking, manufacturing them, selling, exchanging, agreeing to sell, offering for sale, or having in possession for sale.

Are Steroids illegal in South Australia?

In South Australia, steroids are illegal unless you have a prescription from a doctor.

Under the Controlled Substances Act 1984 (SA), possession or supply of steroids carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $10,000.

Are Steroids illegal in Western Australia?

Steroids are illegal in Western Australia under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981 (WA) unless you have a prescription.  

Anabolic and androgenic steroidal agents are ‘specified drugs’ under the Misuse of Drugs Regulation 1982 (WA).

Possessing, using or administering anabolic steroids to someone else is a criminal offence which carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a $2,000 fine.

Supplying, manufacturing or preparing anabolic steroids carries a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment and/or a $100,000 fine.

‘Supply’ is defined in the Act as delivering, dispensing, distributing, forwarding, furnishing, making available, providing, returning or sending.

Are Steroids illegal in Tasmania?

In Tasmania, anabolic and androgenic steroidal agents are classed as ‘controlled drugs’ and are illegal without a prescription under the Misuse of Drugs Act 2001 (TAS).

Possessing, using or administering steroids to another person carries a maximum penalty of 2 years imprisonment and/or a fine of 50 penalty units.

Supplying steroids carries a maximum penalty of 4 years imprisonment and/or a fine of 100 penalty units.

‘Trafficking’ in a controlled substance, which includes steroids, carries a maximum penalty of 21 years imprisonment.

Are Steroids illegal in Northern Territory?

Steroids are illegal in the Northern Territory under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1990 (NT) as they are classed as a Schedule 2 ‘dangerous drug’. 

Possessing and supplying anabolic steroids carries different maximum penalties depending on the quantity involved.

Possessing anabolic steroids less than a traffickable quantity carries a maximum penalty of a $8,800 fine (50 penalty units), unless the possession is in a public place, in which case the maximum penalty increases to 2 years imprisonment and/or a $35,200 (200 penalty units).

Possessing or supplying anabolic steroids between a traffickable quantity and commercial quantity carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and/or a $88,000 fine (500 penalty units x current value of $176).

Possessing or supplying anabolic steroids of a commercial quantity or more carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment.

There is an exception for anabolic steroids in products packaged for ovulation control or in quantities which can lawfully be prescribed.

Are Steroids illegal in the Australian Capital Territory?

In the Australian Capital Territory, steroids are illegal under Part 8 of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT).

A number of anabolic steroids including bolandiol, calusterone, methyltestosterone, testosterone are listed in Schedule 1 of the Act, although any substance that meets the definition of a steroid is considered illegal, whether it is listed in Schedule 1 or not.

The definition of anabolic steroids in the Act includes any salt, active principle or derivative of the substance, stereoisomer of the substance and any preparation or admixture containing any proportion of the substance.

Possessing steroids or administering them carries a maximum penalty of 6 months imprisonment and/or an $8,000 fine (50 penalty units x current value of $160).

Prescribing or supplying an anabolic steroid carries a maximum penalty of 5 years imprisonment and/or $80,000 fine (500 penalty units x current value of $160).

There is an exception for steroids registered under the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 (Cth) or prescribed or supplied for the purposes of a clinical trial conducted under that Act. There is also a defence if you are authorised to manufacture, possess, or supply anabolic steroids or if you obtained steroids from a person authorised to supply them to you.