While it is generally recognised that drug abuse only concerns illicit drugs and narcotics, other classes of medicines can also be abused such as oral corticosteroids; the use of which has been diverted for the purpose of gaining weight in many developing countries. The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility of an abuse of oral corticosteroids for the purpose of weight gain in the Algerian population and assess its extent and sociodemographics. A questionnaire was designed to extract sociodemographic information and clinical history from participants. The patients included in the study were recruited from all subjects who had shown an interest in weight gain. One hundred and eleven individuals out of 600 (18.5% used corticosteroids for the purpose of weight gain with an average age of 25.62 ± 5.62 years old; and an over-representation of women (N=70, 63.1%, P<0.05). The majority of participants (N=71, 63.97%) obtained the drugs directly from a pharmacy with no medical prescription. A significant number of the Algerian population interested in gaining weight is involved in corticosteroids abuse; this issue raises the need for public awareness of the potential adverse effects of corticosteroids and their devastating consequences.