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Chapter 8 - Exercise and the Use of Image- and Performance-Enhancing Drugs within the Gym Environment

from Section 1 - From Exercise to Addiction: An Introduction to the Phenomenon

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  30 March 2023

By
Jim McVeigh ,
Martin Chandler  and
Gemma Anne Yarwood
Edited by
Ornella Corazza  and
Artemisa Rocha Dores
Ornella Corazza
Affiliation:
University of Hertfordshire and University of Trento, Italy
Artemisa Rocha Dores
Affiliation:
Polytechnic Institute of Porto and University of Porto, Portugal
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Summary

Among the image- and performance-enhancing drugs (IPEDs), anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) are now a global public health issue. Once confined to sporting arenas and competitive bodybuilding, they have now reached an increasingly image-conscious general population. In addition to the well-documented evidence of physical harm caused by AAS, there is emerging evidence that in sustained high doses they affect the structure and functioning of the brain. For some of the newer drugs the potential long-term impact is unknown. The risks to health are compounded by polypharmacy, high levels of injecting, and variable product content and contamination resulting from the illicit market. Responses to the issue (i.e., the level and implementation of regulations, education and preventive activities, and treatment and harm reduction) vary. However, there are few data to inform the development of effective interventions, and there is a clear need to develop the evidence base, which requires effective engagement with drug-using populations.

Keywords

anabolic-androgenic steroidsdopingenhancementharm reductionimage- and performance-enhancing drugs
Type
Chapter
Information
The Body in the Mind
Exercise Addiction, Body Image and the Use of Enhancement Drugs
 , pp. 121 - 136
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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