The Clinical Takeaway: Anabolic Steroids and Other Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs

The Clinical Takeaway: Anabolic Steroids and Other Performance and Image Enhancing Drugs

In this episode:

– 41% of GPs surveyed declined requests for assistance from people using performance and image enhancing drugs
– Not all PIED users fit the stereotype and only a minority have some form of body image dysmorphia
– There are important conversations to be had with these patients and we have clearly defined clinical roles to assist them in reducing harms and moving away from using PIEDs

Host: Dr David Lim, GP

Guest: Dr Katinka van de Ven, Senior Lecturer, Centre for Rural Criminology, University of New England; Visiting Fellow, Drugs Policy Modelling Program, Social Policy Research Centre, University of New South Wales

Total time: 47 mins

To assist GPs in their treatment of patients who use non-prescribed anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and other performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs), the Sydney North Health Network (SNHN) developed a GP PIED Guide to harm minimisation. The Guide covers topics such as assessment, red flags, what investigations to run, and management tips, and has four skill-based webinars that cover a range of topics in this area (e.g. how to manage a patient who is not yet ready to stop).
 
This Guide was developed by Dr Katinka van de Ven, Dr Beng Eu, Dr Eva Jackson, Dr Esther Han, Dr Nicole Gouda, Ms Pat Simmonds and Mr Craig Parsons. It involved an extensive review and consultations with health professionals who have experience treating this patient group. The Guide is freely accessible here:
 
www.snhn.net/steroid-harm-minimisation

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