August 5th 2023.
Jack Baldwin was in the prime of his life when he was in his early twenties. His muscles bulged from his clothes and strangers would comment on his body-builder physique. He was almost as wide as he was tall. But on the inside, Jack was falling apart. He was losing his breath climbing the stairs, his blood pressure was high, and he was even crying at the drop of a hat. It was the result of years of steroid abuse that could have led to serious health complications.
Jack was 19 when he started taking anabolic steroids, both orally and with needles, in an attempt to bulk up. Within just a couple of months he was already addicted. Anabolic steroids are classified as Class C drugs, legal to take but illegal to sell. They increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance, but come with a list of health risks.
According to the UK Anti-Doping Agency, an estimated one million UK steroid users are aged between 20-24, which is why the organisation launched a digital campaign in 2020 across social media to highlight the side effects and risks. Unfortunately, young boys are increasingly becoming hooked on steroids, estimating around 500,000 people addicted to physique enhancers. This is an issue that is now being addressed on Coronation Street, with acid attack victim Ryan Connor turning to injecting steroids to help with his confidence.
Jack admits that his steroid addiction began from insecurity. He was always a small child and got bullied a lot, so he just wanted to be bigger. Steroids are sometimes used in ‘cycling’ patterns, which involves taking multiple doses over a specific period of time, stopping and starting again, supposedly to ward off some of the side effects. These side effects, Jack experienced himself, including shrunken testicles, erectile dysfunction, gynaecomastia and hair loss, among others.
He explains that the drugs consumed his life, costing between £250 and £500 for a full cycle. He would experience a period of euphoria at the start of taking them, but he would eventually experience mild irritation and worsening mood swings. He became increasingly aggressive, getting into tussles, and his loved ones were affected, too. He would prioritise steroids over his relationships and be snappy with his family.
Eventually, his family convinced him to get help and he was supported by The Juice Bar, a free and confidential service offering advice on anabolic steroids and other injectable drugs. After over a year of counselling and weekly sessions, Jack says he is now fitter and healthier than ever before. The Juice Bar manager, Paul Martindale, says that many steroid users never feel they are big enough.
Jack is now grateful for the support he received and is determined to raise awareness of the dangers of steroid abuse. He warns others to think carefully before taking them and to consider the psychological and physical consequences.
Jack Baldwin was in his early twenties when he was ripped. His muscles would bulge from his clothes and strangers would comment on his body-builder physique. He was almost as wide as he was tall and appeared to be in excellent physical shape. Little did people know, however, that Jack had a major health issue on the inside.
Jack had been taking anabolic steroids since he was 19, and he was now addicted. Anabolic steroids are classified as Class C drugs and are legal to use, but illegal to sell. They increase muscle mass and improve athletic performance, but come with a catalogue of health risks. The UK Anti-Doping Agency estimates that there are around one million regular steroid users in the UK, with the most common demographic being 20-24 year-old males.
Jack was taking steroids orally and with needles, and his addiction was taking over his life. He describes the cycle of euphoria that he would experience when taking the steroids, but then a dip in his mood would occur and he would experience mild irritation. Over time, his moods got worse and he would experience ‘roid rage’, aggression, and embarrassing crying fits. He was also spending hundreds of pounds a year on the drugs.
Jack’s loved ones were affected, too. He was snappy with them and even made his grandmother cry. His relationships would end abruptly, and he was getting in tussles when he was out drinking and had to be taken away in a police van on multiple occasions. He was exhausted from the strain the steroids were putting on his body and his heart.
Jack’s family eventually convinced him to get help. He saw the doctor and got counselling. He was supported by The Juice Bar, a free and confidential service offering advice on anabolic steroids and other injectable drugs.
The psychological pull of steroids was very strong for Jack, but The Juice Bar helped him turn his life around. He says he is now fitter and healthier than ever before. Manager Paul Martindale of The Juice Bar explains that many steroid users never feel they are big enough and often turn to the internet for advice, which does not always prove to be accurate. The Juice Bar has developed tools to reach out to IPED users, such as Live Chat and two nights a week of taking live enquiries.
Jack’s story is an example of the serious risks associated with taking anabolic steroids. The physical and psychological effects can be devastating, and yet the drugs are still being used by a large number of people. Jack is now grateful to have escaped his addiction.
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