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“No pain, no gainz”? Performance and image-enhancing drugs, health effects and information seeking

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Abstract Background: A range of indicators point to an international increase in the prevalence of performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) use, predominantly among young men. Attention to PIEDs-related benefits, adverse… Click to show full abstract

Abstract Background: A range of indicators point to an international increase in the prevalence of performance and image-enhancing drugs (PIEDs) use, predominantly among young men. Attention to PIEDs-related benefits, adverse health effects, information and health service access are needed. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 605 men who inject PIEDs was conducted at nine primary needle and syringe programme locations across five local health districts in Sydney. Results: Among anabolic–androgenic steroids (AAS) users (n =  564), anger, rage or irritability (27%, 95%CI: 23.4–30.6) and sexual or genital problems (26.4%, 95%CI: 22.9–30.0) were the most commonly reported adverse health effects. Taking regular, longer breaks between AAS cycles were associated with reduced reports of some adverse effects. Approaching two-thirds of participants had told a doctor about using PIEDs (63.1%, 95%CI: 59.1–67.1). However, as length of time since first injecting PIEDs increased, participants’ perceptions of doctors as reliable information sources decreased (rho = −0.10, p = 0.04). Reliance on lay information sources was very common, particularly among people who spoke languages other than English. Conclusions: This study supports providing information on cycle lengths and break periods as part of standard PIEDs-related harm reduction guidelines. Safe injecting and dosage education through peer networks or steroid clinics may be useful strategies.

Keywords: information; image enhancing; performance image; enhancing drugs; health; health effects

Journal Title: Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy
Year Published: 2017

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