Steroids in the Army

October 20, 2025

Steroids in the Army are currently not allowed, unless prescribed by a doctor. Since Steroids are a Schedule III controlled substance, any use of them are subject to punishment under Article 112a of the UCMJ.

That said, Steroids in the Army are not part of the standard drug screening. When ordering a urinalysis (UA), there are standard drugs that are tested. For example, THC, Cocaine, Amphetamines, Methamphetamines, and other common substances, are always tested. Steroids are not part of this list.

There are two primary ways that Steroids in the Army can be tested. The first is that the Commander requests that Steroids be added to the drug screening for his/her entire unit. In order for this to be legitimate, the screening has to be random and equally applied to the entire tested population. The second is a probable cause test. Essentially, if a Commander has probable cause (simply explained as a reasonable suspicion) that a Soldier is using Steroids, a UA can be directed. In these situations, probable cause typically derives from other Soldiers making statements and/or text messages and other digital evidence (ie. money transactions). Steroid use in the Army can be investigated by CID or through an AR 15-6 investigation.

If Steroids in the Army are tested during a UA, then the Command will eventually receive the result. If positive, the Soldier in question will be flagged and will likely face adverse action. Typically, Soldiers that test positive for Steroids in the Army will face an Article 15 or a GOMOR, and will face separation (Enlisted) or Elimination (Officers).

Sometimes a UA will be reported as positive for Steroids in the Army, but, the specimen actually tested positive for SARMs, which are not steroids. SARMs are prohibited substances, and can be looked up at this link. The complete litigation packet should always be requested to avoid this confusion with SARMs and other prohibited substances.

Steroids in the Army are currently still prohibited. A positive test, which can be the result of an honest mistake, immediately threatens a Soldier's career. Any Soldier suspected of Steroid use in the Army should talk to a Military Defense Lawyer immediately. While Trial Defense Services (TDS) are available to assist, they are often inexperienced and overworked. Civilian Counsel can be retained, which allows a Soldier to be represented by a proven lawyer with good former client reviews.

This Article was written by Attorney Matthew Barry. Attorney Barry is highly rated by former clients and has a proven track record of success. He has dealt extensively with Steroids in the Army and the adverse actions that can result.

The Law Office of Matthew Barry represents Servicemembers worldwide. He has offices on the East Coast, West Coast, and in the Central U.S.