Department of Sociology, Manchester Metropolitan University, Manchester, M15 6LL, UK.
Centre for Criminology and Criminal Justice, University of Manchester, Manchester M13 9PL, UK.
Int J Drug Policy. 2019 May;67:43-51. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2019.01.019. Epub 2019 Mar 16.
Over the past two decades, the use of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs) has increased significantly. Once largely confined to professional athletes, IPED use has transcended the elite sporting arena and is now predominantly found among non-elite, recreational gym users. This paper presents research findings from a qualitative study of IPED use and supply in a 'hardcore' bodybuilding gym in the north of England. This article makes an original contribution to the field by providing an in-depth account of the use and supply of IPEDs among this population, demonstrating the intersectionality that exists across IPEDs, diverted medication and both licit and illicit substance use and supply.
The findings are based on the research team's privileged access to an independent, 'hardcore' body building gym in the north of England. Four fieldworkers undertook overt systematic observations, supplemented by 20 semi-structured interviews.
Amongst this sample of bodybuilders, substance use transcended IPEDs to encompass a much broader cocktail of substances all who used IPEDs concomitantly used diverted medication as a means of negating anticipated side-effects, and over half used illegal psychoactive drugs. Furthermore, virtually all of these substances were available to buy via the gym, through fellow gym members and, at times, staff.
This article draws three main conclusions. (1) We are witnessing a convergence of IPED use and supply with diverted medication and 'traditional' recreational substances. (2) The extensive poly-substance use reported by interviewees in this sample necessitates a review of existing harm reduction advice for IPED users that takes into consideration the full range of substances currently being used. (3) Punitive drug policy reform that aims to reduce IPED markets needs to consider the potential to displace social supply towards more commercially-driven dealing. Harsher drug laws may also risk criminalising and stigmatising IPED users.
在过去的二十年中，图像和性能增强药物（IPED）的使用显著增加。曾经主要局限于职业运动员，IPED 的使用已经超越了精英体育领域，现在主要在非精英、娱乐性健身房用户中发现。本文介绍了对英格兰北部一家“铁杆”健身房中 IPED 使用和供应的定性研究的研究结果。本文通过提供对该人群中 IPED 使用和供应情况的深入描述，对该领域做出了原创贡献，展示了 IPED、 diverted medication 以及合法和非法物质使用和供应之间存在的交叉性。
研究结果基于研究团队对英格兰北部一家独立的“铁杆”健身会所的特权访问。四名现场工作人员进行了公开的系统观察，并辅以 20 次半结构化访谈。
在这些健美运动员中，物质使用超越了 IPED，涵盖了更广泛的物质组合，所有使用 IPED 的人都同时使用 diverted medication 来抵消预期的副作用，超过一半的人使用非法精神活性药物。此外，几乎所有这些物质都可以通过健身房、健身房成员和有时的工作人员购买。
本文得出了三个主要结论。（1）我们正在见证 IPED 使用和供应与 diverted medication 和“传统”娱乐性物质的融合。（2）受访者在本样本中报告的广泛多物质使用需要对现有的 IPED 用户减少伤害建议进行审查，这些建议需要考虑到目前正在使用的各种物质。（3）旨在减少 IPED 市场的惩罚性毒品政策改革需要考虑到潜在的将社会供应转移到更商业化的交易的可能性。更严厉的毒品法也可能使 IPED 用户面临犯罪化和污名化的风险。
