What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Addiction, Mental Health.

Where was this research published?

Published in Public health on August 28, 2026.

Italian teens show a sharp rebound in steroid use after 2021

Q: What did this research study find?

Among **93,437** Italian adolescents, *lifetime anabolic-androgenic steroid use* was **1.9%**, while current use was 0.8%.

Prevalence, determinants and trends of anabolic-androgenic steroid use among 93,437 high-school students: Repeated cross-sectional studies in Italy.

Public health • August 28, 2026 • Related

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AI Summary

This large repeated cross-sectional study examined anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use among 93,437 Italian high-school students aged 15–19 between 2017 and 2023, excluding 2020. Lifetime AAS use was 1.9%, while current use was 0.8%. Use fell from 2017 to 2021 but then increased, reaching 3.3% in 2023, suggesting a renewed concern among adolescents.

For cannabis users, the study found an association—not proof that cannabis causes steroid use. Adolescents who reported cannabis use had higher odds of lifetime AAS use (OR 3.16), alongside strong associations with supplements, slimming substances, energy drinks, tobacco, alcohol, gambling, and indicators of social or psychological difficulty. The authors identify young people with multiple risk behaviors, including gender minorities and those experiencing poorer well-being, as groups that may benefit from targeted prevention and health education. The results do not show that cannabis directly leads to AAS use, but they suggest that cannabis use can be a marker of broader risk-taking or vulnerability in this population.

💡 Key Findings

Among 93,437 Italian adolescents, lifetime anabolic-androgenic steroid use was 1.9%, while current use was 0.8%.

High

80%

Lifetime AAS use declined through 2021 but rose to 3.3% in 2023, indicating a concerning rebound among Italian teens.

High

80%

Adolescents reporting cannabis use had higher odds of lifetime AAS use (OR 3.16); this is an association and does not establish that cannabis causes steroid use.

Good

75%

AAS use was also associated with supplements, slimming substances, energy drinks, other substance use, gambling, lower school performance, and social or psychological difficulties.

Good

75%

The authors recommend targeted awareness and prevention efforts for vulnerable adolescents, including gender minorities and those showing multiple addictive behaviors.

Good

70%

📄 Original Abstract

Limited information is available on anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) use among young people. This study aims to fill this knowledge gap using a large Italian dataset. Repeated representative cross-sectional study. We used data from the ESPAD®Italia surveys annually conducted between 2017 and 2023 (excluding 2020) on 93,437 adolescents aged 15-19 years. Odds ratios (OR) of lifetime AAS use were estimated using unconditional multiple logistic regression models. Lifetime AAS use prevalence was 1.9%, current use was 0.8%. Lifetime use declined from 2.4% (2017) to 1.2% (2021), then rose to 3.3% (2023). AAS use was more frequent among males (OR = 1.94; 95% Confidence Interval, CI: 1.75-2.15), those preferring not to disclose their gender (OR = 4.18; 95% CI: 3.00-5.81), overweight/obese (OR = 1.27; 95% CI: 1.10-1.46), subjects doing daily (OR = 1.21; 95% CI: 1.02-1.45), moderate (OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.00-1.49), intense (OR = 1.74; 95% CI: 1.41-2.15), agonistic (OR = 1.29; 95% CI: 1.15-1.45) physical activity, users of slimming substances (OR = 15.61; 95% CI: 13.01-18.73), supplements (OR = 4.59; 95% CI: 4.07-5.19), cigarettes (OR = 2.26; 95% CI: 2.04-2.51), cannabis (OR = 3.16; 95% CI: 2.83-3.52), alcohol (OR = 1.71; 95% CI: 1.53-1.91), energy drinks (OR = 4.25; 95% CI: 3.81-4.74), gamblers (OR = 1.98; 95% CI: 1.72-2.28), with low school performance (OR = 1.49; 95% CI: 1.17-1.90) and self-satisfaction (OR = 1.57; 95% CI: 1.36-1.82), and social problems (OR = 1.61; 95% CI: 1.40-1.84). After a declining trend until 2021, AAS use subsequently rose among Italian teens, especially in vulnerable groups, including gender minorities, and adolescents with addictive behaviours or compromised social and psychological well-being. Awareness efforts are needed to address this emerging concern.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Public health
Published: August 28, 2026
PMID: 42664874
DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2026.106470

Authors (10)

Sabrina Molinaro National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology (CNR-IFC), Pisa, Italy.
Angelo Vigani Nutritional Science, San Raffaele Telematic University, Rome, Italy.
Chiara Stival Department of Medical Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
Alessandra Lugo Department of Medical Epidemiology, Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Milan, Italy.
Sonia Cerrai National Research Council, Institute of Clinical Physiology (CNR-IFC), Pisa, Italy; Department of Epidemiology, Care and Public Health Research Institute, Maastricht University (CAPHRI-UM), Maastricht, the Netherlands.
+5 more authors