Fellow: Dr. Martin Chandler; Partner: Change, Grow, Live; School: School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences.
The self-directed use of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs; e.g., anabolic steroids, human growth hormone) is a growing public health concern with a recent estimate suggesting between 328,000 and 687,000 men in England currently use Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS) to increase muscularity and/or athletic performance. Self-directed IPED use is associated with a number of adverse health effects including cardiovascular (e.g., cardiomyopathy), neuroendocrine (e.g., hypogonadism), hepatic and neuropsychiatric (e.g., depression, mania). Given the prevalence and health concerns, there is a clear need for healthcare provision to meet the needs of this group, however evidence shows they are often reluctant to engage with healthcare, with multiple barriers identified in the literature including perceived (or actual) stigmatisation by healthcare professionals, lack of evidence-based advice and a perceived lack of appropriate knowledge amongst healthcare staff. Harm reduction services are uniquely placed to provide initial healthcare engagement with IPED users by offering non-judgmental services such as needle and syringe exchange programmes, however they face significant challenges. I am working with one (Change, Grow, Live (CGL)) that has seen increasing numbers of IPED injectors accessing their services, with some areas now serving significantly more IPED clients than opiate and stimulant injectors. However, a recent CGL survey highlighted that CGL staff feel poorly equipped to provide advice around IPEDs.
I am undertaking a series of surveys and interviews with clients and staff in order to identify key barriers to engagement and knowledge gaps. These will then feed into the development of bespoke IPED training for CGL staff that I will be delivering across the UK in a series of workshops. I am also planning a one-day conference later in the year to promote collaboration with other organisations providing specialist interventions with IPED clients in order to improve service provision nationally for this client group.