Big business: The private sector market for image and performance enhancing drug harm reduction in the UK

Luke Turnock, Nick Gibbs*, Luke Cox, Timothy Piatkowski

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

14 Citations (Scopus)
18 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

This article draws on three mutually independent ethnographic studies to explore the private sector market for image and performance enhancing drug (IPED) harm reduction in the UK, specifically examining (1) steroid accessory supplements; (2) blood testing services; and (3) bloodletting services. After contextualising the work with a discussion of IPED use and harm reduction and the substantial growth of the global health and fitness industry, each private sector provision is critically interrogated with the following questions in mind: what is the role and utility of these services compared to public sector provision? Why has the private sector begun to deliver IPED harm reduction products and services in the UK? And how does this provision relate to the health and fitness industry more broadly? The paper concludes with some reflections about the future direction of IPED harm reduction, the importance of community-led services, and the need to think innovatively if we are to best protect users’ health and wellbeing.
Original languageEnglish
Article number104254
Number of pages13
JournalInternational Journal of Drug Policy
Volume122
Early online date9 Nov 2023
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Dec 2023

Keywords

  • Image and performance enhancing drugs
  • Harm reduction
  • Steroid accessory supplements
  • Blood testing services
  • Bloodletting services

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