Bournemouth University, Lansdowne Campus, Royal London House, 109 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3LT, UK.
Bournemouth University, CMMPH, Bournemouth House, 19 Christchurch Road, Bournemouth, BH1 3LH, UK.
BMC Public Health. 2019 Jul 31;19(1):1024. doi: 10.1186/s12889-019-7288-x.
Since there is a paucity of research on support for people using Anabolic Androgenic Steroids (AAS), we aimed to identify and synthesise the available evidence in this field. Gaining an understanding of the support both accessed and wanted by recreational AAS users will be of use to professionals who provide services to intravenous substance users and also to those working in the fields of public health and social care, with the aim to increase engagement of those using AAS.
A systematic scoping review of the literature to explore and identify the nature and scope of information and support both accessed and wanted by non-prescribed AAS users. Any support services or information designed to help people who use AAS were considered.
We identified 23 papers and one report for review, which indicated that AAS users access a range of sources of information on: how to inject, substance effectiveness, dosages and side effects, suggesting this is the type of information users want. AAS users sought support from a range of sources including medical professionals, needle and syringe programmes, friends, dealers, and via the internet, suggesting that, different sources were used dependent on the information or support sought.
AAS users tended to prefer peer advice and support over that of professionals, and access information online via specialist forums, reflecting the stigma that is experienced by AAS users. These tendencies can act as barriers to accessing services provided by professionals.
Support needs to be specific and targeted towards AAS users. Sensitivity to their perceptions of their drug-use and the associated stigma of being classified in the same sub-set as other illicit drug users is relevant to facilitating successful engagement.
由于针对使用合成代谢雄激素类固醇（AAS）的人群的支持研究甚少，我们旨在确定并综合该领域的现有证据。了解娱乐性 AAS 用户所获得和需要的支持，将有助于为静脉内物质使用者提供服务的专业人员，以及从事公共卫生和社会保健领域工作的人员，旨在增加 AAS 使用者的参与度。
对文献进行系统的范围界定审查，以探索和确定非处方 AAS 用户所获得和需要的信息和支持的性质和范围。任何旨在帮助 AAS 用户的支持服务或信息都被认为是符合条件的。
我们确定了 23 篇论文和一份报告进行审查，这些论文和报告表明，AAS 用户可以获取各种关于注射方法、物质有效性、剂量和副作用的信息，这表明这是用户需要的信息类型。AAS 用户从各种来源寻求支持，包括医疗专业人员、针具和注射器计划、朋友、经销商以及互联网，这表明不同的来源根据所寻求的信息或支持而有所不同。
AAS 用户倾向于更喜欢来自同行的建议和支持，而不是专业人员的支持，并且通过专门的论坛在线获取信息，反映了 AAS 用户所经历的耻辱感。这些趋势可能成为获得专业人员提供的服务的障碍。
支持必须针对 AAS 用户具体情况和需求。对他们对自己药物使用的看法以及与其他非法药物使用者归为同一亚组的耻辱感保持敏感，对于促进成功的参与至关重要。
