School of Applied Psychology, Griffith University, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia; The Loop Australia, Australia.
School of Public Health, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; The Loop Australia, Australia.
Int J Drug Policy. 2023 Sep;119:104139. doi: 10.1016/j.drugpo.2023.104139. Epub 2023 Jul 21.
Research supports the feasibility and acceptance of drug checking among nightlife and festival attendees. Interest in expanding drug checking to other groups of people who use drugs, including those who inject drugs, has grown. However, understanding the acceptability and feasibility of drug checking among specific cohorts, like anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) consumers, remains a research gap. This study explores AAS consumers' perspectives on drug checking and service preferences, aiding the preparation for drug checking delivery in Queensland, Australia.
A purposive sampling technique was used to recruit 15 AAS consumers (9 males, 6 females; Mage = 36.80 years, SD = 6.12) from Australia. One-on-one semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted with questions exploring participants' views on drug checking/testing and their preferences for AAS analysis. Thematic analysis was conducted with final themes established through iterative consensus.
Consumers expressed frustration with the prevailing stereotypes, social stigma, and the perception of criminality associated with the use of AAS. There was a strong dependence on personal connections and trusted suppliers, with coaches exerting significant influence. Participants expressed concerns about the widespread availability of counterfeit products and underground operations. The act of using unknown AAS was likened to a game of Russian roulette, underscoring the importance of obtaining accurate information and access to reliable drug checking services. Consumers expressed a preference for a web-based platform that enables individuals to access their own test results while contributing to a comprehensive database of brand-specific testing outcomes.
AAS consumers recognise the significance of monitoring their AAS use and seek a service that can not only assist them in making informed decisions regarding AAS usage but also potentially contribute to the knowledge of the wider AAS-consuming community. These findings underscore the importance of tailored education, drug checking services, and harm reduction measures to address the diverse needs of AAS consumers.
研究支持在夜生活和节日参加者中进行药物检测的可行性和可接受性。人们对将药物检测扩展到其他使用药物的人群（包括注射毒品者）的兴趣日益增加。然而，了解特定群体（如合成代谢类固醇（AAS）消费者）对药物检测的可接受性和可行性仍然是一个研究空白。本研究探讨了 AAS 消费者对药物检测和服务偏好的看法，为在澳大利亚昆士兰州提供药物检测服务做准备。
采用目的性抽样技术，从澳大利亚招募了 15 名 AAS 消费者（9 名男性，6 名女性；Mage=36.80 岁，SD=6.12）。对参与者进行了一对一的半结构化定性访谈，问题探讨了他们对药物检测/测试的看法以及对 AAS 分析的偏好。通过迭代共识确定最终主题，对主题进行了分析。
消费者对与使用 AAS 相关的普遍刻板印象、社会污名和犯罪感表示不满。他们强烈依赖个人关系和可信赖的供应商，教练的影响力很大。参与者对假冒产品和地下交易的广泛存在表示担忧。使用未知 AAS 的行为类似于俄罗斯轮盘赌，这凸显了获取准确信息和获得可靠药物检测服务的重要性。消费者表示更喜欢一个基于网络的平台，该平台允许个人访问自己的测试结果，同时为品牌特定测试结果的综合数据库做出贡献。
AAS 消费者认识到监测他们的 AAS 使用的重要性，并寻求一种服务，不仅可以帮助他们做出关于 AAS 使用的明智决策，还可以为更广泛的 AAS 消费者社区的知识做出贡献。这些发现强调了针对 AAS 消费者的多样化需求进行量身定制的教育、药物检测服务和减少伤害措施的重要性。
