My 18 year old son has been exhibiting some odd behaviors, and won't talk to us about them. We've always battled his chronic marijuana use, but these new symptoms are definitely not from smoking pot. He had told us before that he basically thought steroids should be legal and you can't really get hurt using them on a limited basis.

He's become very focused on building up his muscularity and getting very ripped. Things like working out outside in 80 degree weather in sweats and a sweatshirt to maximize water loss is recent.

But his moods have changed over the past couple months, and he's lost about 6 pounds recently, and is looking a bit more defined/bulkier (which could be from losing water or bloating as it's not "steroid obvious" yet.)

He's become very short tempered, very impatient and tends to really fly off the handle. He smacked my youngest son in the back of the head in the car the other day, and when my wife yelled at him, he got out of the car at the next stoplight and walked the 2.5 miles home. He threw his baseball cap at his mother the other day too. Really short tempered over really stupid stuff. He's always been somewhat defiant since becoming a teen, but this is a significant change over the past couple months.

I don't know how long the elevated hormone levels have to be before seeing 'roid rage' type symptoms. Other weird thing he did was in the WalMart the other day, he stopped to check his blood pressure on the machine. Really adamant that he needed to do it, even though we've been in that store hundreds of times and he's never checked his BP. Is there something steroid related that would make him feel like he needed to keep an eye on his BP?

I trust the collective knowledge of this community, so I'm asking for help. He won't talk to me except to threaten to move out, (unless asking for money) so I can't get a straight answer from him. I'm just looking for signs that might give me a clue if the issues are steroids.

Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks,
Croz

Increase in Acne? (Neck,Back,Face)

Increase in Acne? (Neck,Back,Face)

No. Not at all. At least not on his face. I'll keep an eye out for back, etc.

Croz:

My heart goes out to you. I have two sons (ages 31 and 19), both of whom went through all sorts of chemical dependency problems. I don't know if it ever incuded steroids as they did just about everything under the sun. Having been around drug abusers in my home, the best thing I can tell is to always "trust your instinct". I've been through the entire treatment regime from one end to the other and spent a small fortune trying to get my boys off drugs. I don't regret it.

It sounds like your internal alarms are going off and you need to listen to them. He might hate you now, but you could be saving his life. He is definitely on something. Behavior change is the first indicator for family members.

Here is a good site you can check out for steroids:

http://teens.drugabuse.gov/facts/facts_ster1.php

Be proactive and do it today. If he threatens to walk out and leave, let him. Do not enable him. You are not doing him any favors. Tough love is what he needs right now. I had one son handcuffed and hauled out of my house to get him in treatment. It was very hard to do that, but it was the only way. I wasn't going to let him kill himself with drugs.

Do what it takes to get him help. I can't stress this enough.

If you think he may be on other drugs you can order drug test kits from this site. This lady runs it and she is very fair on pricing and will answer any questions you have. If you need it shipped overnight, she will get it to you.

www.drugtestyourteen.com (http://www.drugtestyourteen.com)



If you need any moral support let me know. You can PM me if you want.

Good luck and God bless.

Mauidude,
I may take you up on that PM offer. I'm going to see what I can find in his room in the morning. This behavior is way off, and like I said, it's certainly not pot. From my experience, chronic marijuana users only get aggressive at bags of Doritos.

Sorry to hear it, Croz.

Certainly all of the things you mention CAN be symptoms, but they may also be a strange coincidence. I'd error on the side of safety, and assume that your suspicions are correct.

Not sure if hair sample testing could help sort things out, but that may be an option.

I'd definitely be proactive with that situation. My 17 YO thinks he rules the world. They don't understand consequences, nor do they care.

I'm with Mauidude 100 %

Go with your gut...you NEED to know for sure.

Good Luck, Croz. It's a tough job we have.

Certainly all of the things you mention CAN be symptoms, but they may also be a strange coincidence.

Absolutely. But I need to find out. The behavior change is significant enough and recent enough that it can't just be the fact that he turned 18 and now things he's free to do what he wants.

He's also started getting shitty with some of his friends, to the point they've said something to us. That tells me it's not just rebelling against parents.

My 17 YO thinks he rules the world. They don't understand consequences, nor do they care.

Amen! He went through a court-ordered drug education program when he was 16 because he got caught at school with some pot. He thinks he won't get in trouble no matter what he does.

Amen! He went through a court-ordered drug education program when he was 16 because he got caught at school with some pot. He thinks he won't get in trouble no matter what he does.

After spending $100,000 on treatment options and the like, my son got pulled over two months shy of his 18th birthday. He had a group in his car and the cops found meth. If he'd been 18, he would be in prison right now. He spent 3 days in juvey then a long period of probation, community service, etc. He told the judge that he thought he was too smart to get caught and that this was a wake up call for him.

Yes, your son thinks he has it all figured out, no one can tell him anything, he has researched it and knows how to handle it, the government is conspiring to keep good drugs out of people's hands, etc. etc. Underlying all this are some emotional problems as your son is self medicating, whether it is roids or something else. He may have low self esteem and is trying to compensate for it by using drugs. That would make sense with the obsession with his body in an unhealthy way.

My advice, sit him down, tell him your suspicions. Have some of his friends there to substantiate what you are saying. Sort of a mini intervention. If he denies it, then tell him you're going to search his room. Every addict keeps stashes around the house. I guarantee he has one or more in his room or other places in the house. Tell him you love him and that you are prepared to get him help if he wants it. If he's using drugs you cannot let him stay in your house. In fact, if he is using drugs, the best thing is to let him know he cannot be part of your life unless he agrees to get help. In other words he must choose between the drugs and his family.

Be prepared for him to call you every name in the book, that he hates you, that you're an a--hole, etc. That's not him talking but whatever substance he is taking is controlling him.

Sorry for going on about this, but this is a subject very dear to me and my heart goes out to all the "lost boys", as I call them, who are destroying their lives with drugs. Remember, you're not a bad dad, we all love our boys, its the world they live in.

Maybe he's having problems somewhere else. 18 can be a difficult age. I know that at around that time I was stressed about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life (was I going to college? would I be accepted with my poor grades? was I smart enough to get through college? etc.). He also may be leaving his lifelong friends (or maybe his friends are leaving him). Maybe he just got dumped (that would explain the sudden need to improve physically). Or possibly a combination of all of the above. A lot of changes are happening at that point in a person's life. :confused:

Certainly all of the things you mention CAN be symptoms, but they may also be a strange coincidence. I'd error on the side of safety, and assume that your suspicions are correct.

Not sure if hair sample testing could help sort things out, but that may be an option.

I'd definitely be proactive with that situation. My 17 YO thinks he rules the world. They don't understand consequences, nor do they care.

I'm with Mauidude 100 %

Go with your gut...you NEED to know for sure.

You are right, it could all be a coincidence. Right now, I'm just collecting information. I was hoping to find clues on steroid abuse, and I've found some information here and elsewhere. Everyone has been really helpful.

After spending $100,000 on treatment options and the like, my son got pulled over two months shy of his 18th birthday. He had a group in his car and the cops found meth. If he'd been 18, he would be in prison right now. He spent 3 days in juvey then a long period of probation, community service, etc. He told the judge that he thought he was too smart to get caught and that this was a wake up call for him.

I'm really sorry to hear about everything you went through, Mauidude. My sister-in-law went through something similar, and unfortunately, her daughter is still in prison. I'm glad your boys turned out OK in spite of it all.

We're still trying to figure everything out. There are several things that could be driving this, and we're investigating all of them.

Maybe he's having problems somewhere else. 18 can be a difficult age. I know that at around that time I was stressed about what I wanted to do with the rest of my life (was I going to college? would I be accepted with my poor grades? was I smart enough to get through college? etc.). He also may be leaving his lifelong friends (or maybe his friends are leaving him). Maybe he just got dumped (that would explain the sudden need to improve physically). Or possibly a combination of all of the above. A lot of changes are happening at that point in a person's life. :confused:

George, thank you. We're certainly considering that also. Most of this started right around the time he turned 18, and we certainly think that's not helping. But given his ongoing pot use, we want to make sure that he's not starting with things more dangerous.

My wife searched his room, and his school backpack yesterday and only turned up a few things. A few completely used up roaches, a pipe, a few empty baggies with stray seeds, and a misguided attempt to brew his own saki. (Which explains the smell that's been in his room recently.)

Nothing at all that suggests anything more serious than marijuana at this point.

We talked to him last night, to basically lay out rules he has to live by in our house. He seems to think that once he turned 18, that his room became his apartment and he's free to do what he wants in it, regardless of the fact that it's in our house. We explained that if he didn't want to live by or rules (which included no drugs in the house) that he would have to find a place to live.

He did tell us he hates living in our house, because of his younger brothers. He also told us that his aunt has been offering to let him come live with her in Texas behind our back. (Nice. My wife wants to kill her now.) And he's considering moving back to Michigan to live with his biological father. We told him that those would be his choices, and that part of becoming an adult is that those choices have consequences, on his education, etc. (He's entitled to a full-ride tuition scholarship if he goes to a Florida school) He told us that it would be all our fault if he had to move.

I had to explain to him that if he makes a choice, then the consequences are his. That's part of being an adult too. Like many teens, he's decided that his life is bad, and that it's his parent's fault.

I'd hate to see him leave, and I'll try to convince him to stay. But I also won't create a dangerous, or harmful environment for my wife and other sons just to get him to stay.

We've wandered now way off track from fitness, but I appreciate everyone's help.

Hi Croz,

Just thought I'd add what some of the others have said. If you sense something is up....odds are something is up. Although it may not be steroids.

I've had a similar experience as others, but it was my younger brother. He was living with my parents and started using cocaine in ridiculous amounts. I eventually searched his room and found enough evidence to support my initial thoughts.

As much as I do think kids do need some privacy, it's the only way I've busted him over the years (4x now!!) he's never once confessed on his own, I have to find evidence.

I can appreciate how difficult your situation is. My advice is to be as observant as possible, with his behaviour as well as habits. When you get a chance check his room, jacket pockets, pants pockets etc. It's hard sometimes to not jump to conclusions, but I do think it's very important also to trust your instincts! Mine have yet to fail me in regards to my brother, even when things seemed on the up and up, they weren't.

Best of luck.

Croz, I can't off advice based on experience as others have already done, but I do want to add that I think you're taking the right steps and handling the situation as it should be. This could all be a confluence of several unrelated inputs that have nothing to do with drug use, but even then it would be nice to get some clarity on the issue in order to start healing what appears to be an increasingly acrimonious situation. If drug use is a factor then there's even more of an imperative to determine what's happening as there can be severe health and legal ramifications in addtion.

One thing that you mentioned did stick out in my mind and that was you writing about the changed attitude toward his friends and how they approached you about it. As you wrote this indicates that his behavioral changes are global and not just directed at his parents and younger siblings, which I imagine is pretty much text book fodder for eighteen year olds. Personally, it's another indication that something's awry even though it doesn't point to any conclusions as to what.

For his friends to come to you things must have changed between them in a significant manner as eighteen year old boys don't run to the parents of their friends to talk with them about their friend. Could they possibly give you any insight as to whether or not he's been hanging out with a with different group of kids lately or anything else they may have noticed that's changed?

Croz, best of luck to you and your family as you grapple with this.

Hi Croz,

I have no idea if this would be of any use or interest to you, but also someone may search this tread one day and maybe it'll be useful, who knows.

When I was dealing with my brother the one thing that came in really handy was urine test strips. They make them for pretty much any drug now days. I did search the site and they have one for steroids, a little pricey as I believe they are aimed at testing amature atheletes.

I got to a point where I couldn't believe a word out of my brother's mouth, so ended up ordering the cocain ones. It was more of an issue as he was living with my parents and ripping them off, thus needing to get involved. Anyway, they worked very well, the company was really good to deal with.

http://www.meditests.com

Coz:

Sounds like you're on the right path. Good for you my friend. Being a stepdad makes it even harder and having family members interfering with you and your wife's attempt to teach him is very frustrating (been there done that).

One more thing I've learned. Addicts (especially teenagers) will lie right to your face. They are the most convincing liars around because it has become a way of life to them. They have learned to lie to themselves as well.

My younges son on more than on occassion swore up and down he wasn't doing drugs and challenged me to test him. I did and he tested positive for opiates. I kept urine test panels at my house. If you test, you must have them stip down to nothing but a pair of boxer shorts, leave the bathroom door open so you can watch them. They will do anything to pass. I know all the tricks. Scoop water out of the toilet, have clean samples on them they carry around with them in case they are tested, add some substance in the sample to throw off the test, etc.

I will continue to encourage you and your wife to stand strong against his drug use. It is the only way. One day he will thank you for it. Remember you are fighting the drug, not fighting him. Marijuana is the gateway to harder drugs 99% of the time in teenagers.

FYI, Many people get temporarily aggressive (for a few months, perhaps) after withdrawing from consistent heavy marijuana usage.

As far as bulking up, it's entirely possible that with the large amounts of natural hormones at his age, that it is all natural.

Like others said, 18 can be a difficult age.

That being said, if you suspect something is up, there's a good chance that there is. I'd agree that looking around and paying close attention is a good idea, and perhaps talking in a non-accusatory tone is a good idea as well.

You may want to read through this forum http://forums.steroid.com/ to learn more about the names of steroids, the effects, what they look like, etc. Obviously that forum is going to be more pro-steroids, as most of the posters there are users, so I wouldn't necessarily expect much help from them by posting there, but it's certainly a good resource for you to learn.

Good luck...

Well, today he took of his t-shirt and his chest is covered with acne. Far worse than I have ever seen it. Nothing on his neck or back though.

Of course, it's getting hotter and he's working out outside and sweating a lot more, but this is the worst I've seen.

Well, today he took of his t-shirt and his chest is covered with acne. Far worse than I have ever seen it. Nothing on his neck or back though.

Of course, it's getting hotter and he's working out outside and sweating a lot more, but this is the worst I've seen.

I imagine it could obviously be very different for different people, but for what it's worth, for me and most kids I know, acne started to significantly slow down/diminish by 17/18. I had moderate chest/back/facial acne at 15/16, and it cleared up significantly after a while, about 90% by now, as in I still get some pimples but it's minor at this point and barely bothers me (I'm 19 now). Seems unusual that it would get worse as he's getting older, although it isn't impossible.

Anyway, good luck, definitely a tough situation...not much more else I can add that hasn't been said at this point.

YI, Many people get temporarily aggressive (for a few months, perhaps) after withdrawing from consistent heavy marijuana usage.

This is definitely true, it's a result of them trying to deal with the psychological effects of ending their usage, and having to deal with everything the way it really is, clearheaded 24/7. Of course, it sounds like this possibility might be wishful thinking.

I definitely agree with what George was saying, although it seems like there has definitely been some sort of shift, especially with the part about his friends speaking with you...typically friends wouldn't go to parents unless they have a pretty serious concern.

The BP checking thing definitely seems like a red flag...could be a tip he read online?

Good luck. If I were you I'd definitely consider confronting him without being too aggresive about it since you don't want to aggravate the situation too much, although you'll most likely get a no answer no matter what the truth is...

Well, today he took of his t-shirt and his chest is covered with acne. Far worse than I have ever seen it. Nothing on his neck or back though.

Of course, it's getting hotter and he's working out outside and sweating a lot more, but this is the worst I've seen.

Croz,

I don't personally have any experience with muscle building chemicals but I can tell you this much: on two different occassions I've had training partners that went on a cycle of "the juice". Both of them developed very severe cases of acne. Not so much facial acne, mainly back and chest acne.

Best wishes for a quick resolution of this situation.

It takes money to buy drugs, If he isn't working you control the money.

That isn't advice, I offered. Just something to remind you of as a parent.

Well, today he took of his t-shirt and his chest is covered with acne. Far worse than I have ever seen it. Nothing on his neck or back though.

Of course, it's getting hotter and he's working out outside and sweating a lot more, but this is the worst I've seen.

I say this with deep respect for your role as a parent and I say it out of caring, but COME ON, REALLY? Here you are denying the acne thing - "Maybe it's hot out." Really?

And this whole struggling with the pot problem thing? When I was 17 my father found out I was smoking pot. I was a smart kid and covered every base, but a friend of mine kept a diary and her parents ransacked her room. When he found out I was dragged out of bed, urine tested, and tested for the next six months. His words? "This is the beginning of the line and the end of the line. That was your first and last chance. Do it one more time and you're out on your ass. My house - my rules. Deal?"

And he meant it too. I thought he was evil incarnate, but I also knew he loved me and he wasn't going to stand idly by while I made stupid mistakes. I think you guys may very well be past the point of an ultimatum. Just lay it all out, I say. Give him information on any and all drugs he may be doing, look at his pee, and tell him that this is the time to decide what he's going to do with his life. Don't argue - it's a fool's errand with a teenager. Just lay it all out and tell him to work with you or he'll have to show himself to the door.

I'm of the opinion that pot is relatively harmless, though steroids most certainly are not. They can cause lifelong systemic changes. He could have a stroke, or worse. And think of the example you'd be setting for the other kids. If you have to make an example out of him, I say do it. It'll be best for him and the rest of them for him to live by his own decisions.

That said, I really do hope he winds up okay in the end and I'm very sorry for what you guys must be going through. I think he's just not going to listen to arguments, and you need to not listen to lies or to lie to yourself. He's a big boy, and the only way to get through to big boys is with big medicine.

Best of luck to all of you. And I mean that. i wouldn't go back to being that age if you paid me.

FWIW I get bad outbreaks on my chest and back, mood swings, etc, and I've never taken steroids. You could check his room, pill bottle/needles?

Best to you Croz.

I agree with mauidude.
My family and myself have going through this s^&t for 15years with my younger brother.
Don't do as my parents have done with my brother.
They always bail him out.
He has stolen from them.
Stolen from our family business.
Has fathered two children out of wed lock, the mother of one works for us and the other mother lives at my parents! What kind of sick thinking is that?
And he has done no good for the children.
He needs money my parents are there like fools. Does he support the kids? No just his drug habit.
I could tell you some stories I'm not proud of that Maui can relate but the point is nip it in the bud NOW!

I would do anything in my means to straighten his ass up.

p.s. I got caught smoking pot in the 7th grade...I wasn't urine tested, they didn't have the tests back then.
What I did get was a good old fashioned ass-whoopin.
Never cared for it much after that.
(I know that's not the answer....)

Best of luck man.

You owe it to yourself to do a urine test. Several, even. If he doesn't like it, too bad. He might hate you, but if you care you have to make sure he's clean and get him help if he's not. Its worth it in the long run.

Best wishes,
Dan

From the examples you've given he sounds like a normal teen. I was probably most obsessive about proper nutrition, and regular, daily resistance training and cardio when I was 12. I was constantly monitoring my body (i.e. HR, weight, height, strength, endurance). When I turned 16 I started to run, and became more and more obsessed with my resting HR. It sounds to me like your son is going through the same sort of stage I have been through in the past. It's not a bad thing. I would just monitor him, from a distance if need be, to be sure his interest in his body and health does not become too obsessive and dangerous. Teenage boys are often moody, and have naturally elevated testosterone. It's part of growing up.

On a side note, you mentioned he likes to train in sweats in the heat. This is dangerous in its own right. This kind of training, while effective for weight loss, can cause rhabdomyolysis. Rhabdomyolysis (rhabdo) is the breakdown of muscle tissue, and in the exercise world is caused by excessive overtraining, and is augmented in the heat. It is dangerous because when the muscle cell is damaged a protein, myoglobin, can leak out. Myoglobin in the blood has a tendency to aggegate in the tubules of the kidney, especially in more acidic conditions like those seen in blood during exercise, eventually causing kidney failure.

Just a suggestion, if he is using steroids what are you going to do about it? Tell him to quit? You will probably drive him to hide more and more from you and piss him off. My advice, do some research on the steroids and understand them a little better. They CAN be used safely. Although if he did not research it well then he probably is not using them safely.

Also, prohormones are legal forms of chemicals which usually convert to some sort of steroid. You can pick these up at any nutrition shop. Also he could be taking a natural test booster, or maybe he is just tired of taking your crap and enjoys working out as a medicator? Easy way to figure this is check his computer history. See what sites he is going to, weightlifting forums? Fitness forums? Snooping through his room is kinda crappy and so is sneaking through his computer files.

It would be nice to have an open and honest relationship. That is ideal and not always possible.

Forcing him to take tests and things like that are just going to piss him off more and hurt your relationship with him.

But ways to tell if he is taking steroids see if he has any milk thistle laying around that is used for liver protection against 17aa compounds (oral steroids), hawthorne berry (for high BP), nolvadex (SERM for estrogen), syringes and needles too of course.

Just a suggestion, if he is using steroids what are you going to do about it? Tell him to quit? You will probably drive him to hide more and more from you and piss him off. My advice, do some research on the steroids and understand them a little better. They CAN be used safely. Although if he did not research it well then he probably is not using them safely.
Yes, I would suggest he tell him to quit. Most things can be used safely by some people, and that's hardly the point, especially with a teenager living under his parents' roof. I don't think avoiding conflict with your child over illegal drug use merely to avoid conflict is good parenting. Regardless of whether or not they can or are being used safely, steroids are illegal in the US. I think part of being a parent is trying to impress upon your child that actions have consequences, which can follow you for the rest of your life.

maybe he is just tired of taking your crap and enjoys working out as a medicator?
Maybe. But first of all, working out does not equal steroid use. Second of all, he's a teenager. The whole free food, housing, support routine generally comes with a few strings attached like... living by your parents' rules. If an eighteen year old is tired of taking his parents' "crap" he has a legal recourse: move out. Third of all, I think Croz's initial post makes it clear that his son is not a good decision-maker, and he's deeply concerned about him. I find this ad hominem swipe at Croz and his wife unwarranted.

For new posters, there are rules at JSF, one is: No discussions advocating or inquiring about the use of illegal substances are allowed on this forum. This is a health and fitness forum. If you want to discuss steroids, marijuana, cocaine, etc., then do it somewhere else; however, those of you who are seeking support and/or advice to help rid your lives of illegal drugs/substance abuse are more than welcome to do so on this forum. :tucool:

I disagree with this post (below) about 100%. Of course you tell him to quit. You demand it, insist on it and verify it or kick his ass out. Illegal activity in your home may subject your home to forfeiture. Plus, it isn't fair to your other kids, etc., etc. Who cares if you piss him off or hurt his feelings?

If you enable, you are complicit. Please don't take the easy way out.


Just a suggestion, if he is using steroids what are you going to do about it? Tell him to quit? You will probably drive him to hide more and more from you and piss him off. My advice, do some research on the steroids and understand them a little better. They CAN be used safely. Although if he did not research it well then he probably is not using them safely.

Also, prohormones are legal forms of chemicals which usually convert to some sort of steroid. You can pick these up at any nutrition shop. Also he could be taking a natural test booster, or maybe he is just tired of taking your crap and enjoys working out as a medicator? Easy way to figure this is check his computer history. See what sites he is going to, weightlifting forums? Fitness forums? Snooping through his room is kinda crappy and so is sneaking through his computer files.

It would be nice to have an open and honest relationship. That is ideal and not always possible.

Forcing him to take tests and things like that are just going to piss him off more and hurt your relationship with him.

But ways to tell if he is taking steroids see if he has any milk thistle laying around that is used for liver protection against 17aa compounds (oral steroids), hawthorne berry (for high BP), nolvadex (SERM for estrogen), syringes and needles too of course.

My 18 year old son has been exhibiting some odd behaviors, and won't talk to us about them. We've always battled his chronic marijuana use, but these new symptoms are definitely not from smoking pot. He had told us before that he basically thought steroids should be legal and you can't really get hurt using them on a limited basis.

He's become very focused on building up his muscularity and getting very ripped. Things like working out outside in 80 degree weather in sweats and a sweatshirt to maximize water loss is recent.

But his moods have changed over the past couple months, and he's lost about 6 pounds recently, and is looking a bit more defined/bulkier (which could be from losing water or bloating as it's not "steroid obvious" yet.)

He's become very short tempered, very impatient and tends to really fly off the handle. He smacked my youngest son in the back of the head in the car the other day, and when my wife yelled at him, he got out of the car at the next stoplight and walked the 2.5 miles home. He threw his baseball cap at his mother the other day too. Really short tempered over really stupid stuff. He's always been somewhat defiant since becoming a teen, but this is a significant change over the past couple months.

I don't know how long the elevated hormone levels have to be before seeing 'roid rage' type symptoms. Other weird thing he did was in the WalMart the other day, he stopped to check his blood pressure on the machine. Really adamant that he needed to do it, even though we've been in that store hundreds of times and he's never checked his BP. Is there something steroid related that would make him feel like he needed to keep an eye on his BP?

I trust the collective knowledge of this community, so I'm asking for help. He won't talk to me except to threaten to move out, (unless asking for money) so I can't get a straight answer from him. I'm just looking for signs that might give me a clue if the issues are steroids.

Any ideas are appreciated. Thanks,
Croz


check for pimples on his back, also if he all of the sudden has tanked up and cut and bulky, then he proberly does.

pay close attention around his forarm, shoulders and stuff if their heaps bigger or start to get heaps bigger within 2 months thats another clue:gl:

Just a suggestion, if he is using steroids what are you going to do about it? Tell him to quit? You will probably drive him to hide more and more from you and piss him off. My advice, do some research on the steroids and understand them a little better. They CAN be used safely. Although if he did not research it well then he probably is not using them safely.

Also, prohormones are legal forms of chemicals which usually convert to some sort of steroid. You can pick these up at any nutrition shop. Also he could be taking a natural test booster, or maybe he is just tired of taking your crap and enjoys working out as a medicator? Easy way to figure this is check his computer history. See what sites he is going to, weightlifting forums? Fitness forums? Snooping through his room is kinda crappy and so is sneaking through his computer files.

It would be nice to have an open and honest relationship. That is ideal and not always possible.

Forcing him to take tests and things like that are just going to piss him off more and hurt your relationship with him.

But ways to tell if he is taking steroids see if he has any milk thistle laying around that is used for liver protection against 17aa compounds (oral steroids), hawthorne berry (for high BP), nolvadex (SERM for estrogen), syringes and needles too of course.

The original poster came on this site with a legitimate concern about his stepson. Sudden changes in behavior are some of the best indicators of illegal drug use. In today's society, you cannot merely write it off as typical teenage angst. Drug use is rampant among American teens.

Since the stepson is 18, he cannot be forced to get into treatment. It must be his choice. Hopefully, if he is using drugs, he will seek treatment.

As far as your comment about searching his room and computer, you are way off base. The drug addict will lie to those closest to him. In order to confront him with what he is doing,, many times you need facts since the user will just lie to your face. I don't care if forcing him to take a drug test is going to "piss him off". If he is clean, he has nothing to hide.

Unless you have experienced a drug addict living in your home (I have gone through two teenage sons using hard core drugs), I suggest you keep your comments to yourself, as they are not helpful. I would encourage any parent to take whatever means are necessary to get their kids off drugs, whether it is steroids or any other illegal substance. I told my kids I didn't care if they hated me for the rest of their lives, I love them enough to take that chance. I've had my boys spit in my face, get violent with me (I'm a very passive, non-violent person), call me every name in the book, fun away from home, etc. etc. I never responded to them in the way they acted toward me.

I have great relationships with both of my sons. They have thanked me time and time again for having the backbone and the love to stand up to their drug use and for never giving up on them. It was very hard, but I would do it again in a heartbeat. They also know that when the chips are down, I am the one guy in the entire world they can come to and that I am always prepared to do battle on their behalf. I wouldn't hesitate for a second to take a bullet for any of my kids.

I also agree with Boots, that you lay down the law and if he doesn't want to live by the rules, then lovingly show him the door and tell him that until he is willing to get help, you want nothing to do with him. He must choose his family or his drugs. Its the only way to shock them with the reality of their drug use.

Sorry for ranting away here, but this is an issue near and dear to my heart.

Just a quick note, if/when testing for opiates, make sure none of your foods had poppy seeds in them.

It's fairly common here in Holland as a type of bread. While the seeds contain only trace amounts of the active substance of poppy, the tests do trigger on eating poppy seeds.

Just to avoid any false positives. Good luck.