What is a juicer slang?

Juicer slang refers to the unique vocabulary and phrases used by people who take performance enhancing drugs, particularly anabolic steroids. The term “juicer” itself is slang for someone who uses steroids to gain muscle mass and improve athletic performance. This subculture has developed over decades, with its own idioms and shorthand to describe behaviors, products, effects, and more relating to illegal steroid use.

Background on Juicers and Steroid Slang

Anabolic steroids are synthetic variations of the male sex hormone testosterone. When taken in supraphysiological doses, they promote muscle growth and recovery far beyond what is achievable naturally. While steroids have legitimate medical uses, non-medical use of high dose steroids specifically to improve physique and performance is illegal in the US and many other countries.

However, despite the legal and health risks, many athletes and bodybuilders continue to take steroids illicitly for performance enhancement and aesthetic goals. This has given rise to a unique subculture with its own slang and customs.

“Juicer” is the most common slang term for someone using steroids. It refers to the notion that steroids help users get “juiced up” with artificially high testosterone and muscle-building effects. Other slang terms include “gym candy” and “gear.” The drugs themselves are referred to as “juice.”

This vocabulary originated in the bodybuilding community but has since spread to other strength-focused sports where steroids are prevalent, including powerlifting, strongman competitions, and American football. However, juicer culture is generally shrouded in secrecy to avoid legal repercussions.

Different Types of Steroids

There are a wide variety of steroids that juicers might use. Some of the main ones include:

Steroid	Slang Names
Testosterone	Test, Tren, Te, Trenbolone
Dianabol	Dbol, D-bol
Anadrol	A-bombs, A50
Deca Durabolin	Deca
Winstrol	Winny
Anavar	Var

Testosterone is the base steroid that suppresses natural testosterone production in the body. Other steroids are typically stacked on top of a testosterone base. Dianabol and Anadrol are bulking agents, used to rapidly gain mass. Deca Durabolin and Winstrol are cutting agents, used to preserve lean muscle during fat loss regimens before competitions. Anavar is a milder steroid often used by women.

Different Steroid Cycles and Patterns

Juicers carefully plan out cycles of steroid use to maximize benefits and minimize side effects. Common slang terms for different cycles include:

• Blast – A period of heavy steroid use, either in high doses or stacked combinations.
• Cruise – A period of lower dose steroid maintenance between blasts.
• Pyramid cycle – Steadily increasing steroid doses, peaking in the middle, then decreasing doses.
• Kickstart – Adding a fast acting steroid at the beginning of a cycle to get rapid gains.

Testosterone needs to be administered regularly because natural testosterone production shuts down. A typical weekly schedule might look like:

Day	Injections
Monday	Testosterone
Tuesday	Off
Wednesday	Off
Thursday	Testosterone
Friday	Off
Saturday	Dianabol (oral steroid)
Sunday	Off

Slang Terms for Gains and Side Effects

Juicers closely track their gains but also have to be mindful of side effects:

Gains Slang	Side Effect Slang
Making gains, getting swole	Roid rage
Getting jacked, getting juicy	Bitch tits (gynecomastia)
Adding mass, getting huge	Shrinkage (testicular atrophy)
Building muscle, getting pumped	Tren cough

“Making gains” and “getting swole” refers to building muscle. “Roid rage” refers to aggression and mood swings which can occur. Developing breast tissue is called “bitch tits” or gynecomastia. Shrinking testicles is referred to as “shrinkage.” Trenbolone can cause coughing fits, known simply as “tren cough.”

Slang for Steroid Administration and Paraphernalia

Juicers need various supplies to administer steroids:

Supply	Slang Terms
Syringes	Pins, rigs, points
Needles	Darts, tips
Oral steroids	Orals, caps, tabs
Injectable steroids	Oil, water-based

Syringes are referred to as pins, rigs, or points. Needles may be called darts or tips. Oral steroids come in capsule or tablet form, so they are called orals, caps, or tabs. Injectable steroids come in oils or water-based preparations.

The act of injection is referred to as “pinning” or “shooting up.” Injection sites include glutes (buttocks), delts (shoulders), lats (upper back), pecs (chest), bis (biceps) and quads (quadriceps).

Slang Terms for Steroid Sources

Due to the legal issues, juicers have come up with creative slang for their steroid sources:

• Plug – A dealer or supplier, the source for steroids.
• Underground lab (UGL) – Clandestine labs that manufacture steroids.
• Homebrew – Steroids made in amateur homemade labs.
• Human grade – Pharmaceutical-quality products.
• Vet grade – Cheaper quality products supposedly only for veterinary use.
• Monkey whizz – Using animal or synthetic urine to pass steroid urine tests.

Rather than say “my drug dealer,” juicers will say their “plug” or “source.” Some use steroids from underground labs of dubious quality referred to as “UGL.” Others use steroids homebrewed in secret personal labs. Steroids from major pharmaceutical companies are considered “human grade,” while cheaper steroids are sarcastically referred to as “vet grade.” Since steroids are banned in sports, some juicers try to beat drug tests by using monkey whizz or animal urine.

Cautions and Dangers

While juicer culture glorifies the muscle-building powers of steroids, there are good reasons for their legal prohibition. Some severe side effects include:

• Liver toxicity
• Kidney damage
• Enlarged heart
• Psychiatric effects like depression, aggression, hypomania
• Insomnia and sleep apnea

And for men specifically:

• Gynecomastia (breast tissue growth)
• Testicular atrophy
• Prostate enlargement
• Infertility
• Erectile dysfunction

These risks are in addition to legal issues around buying and possessing banned substances. While slang helps juicers conceal their activities, it does not reduce the dangers involved.

Conclusion

In summary, “juicer” slang has emerged from the illicit world of steroids and bodybuilding over many decades. It allows references to drugs, cycles, sources, gains, side effects and more through unique codewords and jargon. For interested observers, learning this vocabulary provides a window into understanding and tracking juicer culture. However, one should be aware of the serious health and legal pitfalls of actually using steroids outside of legitimate medical purposes.