Understanding and responding to anabolic steroid injecting and hepatitis C risk in Australia: A research agenda

In recent years, several studies have suggested that the use of performance and image enhancing drugs via injection is increasing in Australia, with anabolic steroids appearing to be the most commonly used of these drugs. Traditionally the domain of elite athletes and recreational bodybuilders, ster...

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Main Authors: Seear, Kate, Fraser, Suzanne, Moore, David, Murphy, Dean
Format: Journal Article
Published: Taylor and Francis Ltd 2015
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30379
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author Seear, Kate
Fraser, Suzanne
Moore, David
Murphy, Dean
author_facet Seear, Kate
Fraser, Suzanne
Moore, David
Murphy, Dean
author_sort Seear, Kate
building Curtin Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description In recent years, several studies have suggested that the use of performance and image enhancing drugs via injection is increasing in Australia, with anabolic steroids appearing to be the most commonly used of these drugs. Traditionally the domain of elite athletes and recreational bodybuilders, steroid use may be extending to other groups, including adolescents, gym attendees, professionals and students. Like other forms of injecting drug use, steroid injecting can allow transmission of blood-borne viruses, especially hepatitis C, but little is known about how steroid injecting takes place and how such transmission might occur. Crucially, Australias existing harm reduction framework appears ill-equipped to deal with this emerging trend, and is underprepared to meet the challenges that it may pose. In this commentary, we outline key areas where more research into steroid use in Australia is needed. Improved understandings of the practices and experiences of individuals, who inject steroids, and the possibilities for targeted harm reduction responses, are needed if Australia is to respond to the increase in steroid use effectively.
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spelling curtin-20.500.11937-303792017-09-13T15:30:24Z Understanding and responding to anabolic steroid injecting and hepatitis C risk in Australia: A research agenda Seear, Kate Fraser, Suzanne Moore, David Murphy, Dean In recent years, several studies have suggested that the use of performance and image enhancing drugs via injection is increasing in Australia, with anabolic steroids appearing to be the most commonly used of these drugs. Traditionally the domain of elite athletes and recreational bodybuilders, steroid use may be extending to other groups, including adolescents, gym attendees, professionals and students. Like other forms of injecting drug use, steroid injecting can allow transmission of blood-borne viruses, especially hepatitis C, but little is known about how steroid injecting takes place and how such transmission might occur. Crucially, Australias existing harm reduction framework appears ill-equipped to deal with this emerging trend, and is underprepared to meet the challenges that it may pose. In this commentary, we outline key areas where more research into steroid use in Australia is needed. Improved understandings of the practices and experiences of individuals, who inject steroids, and the possibilities for targeted harm reduction responses, are needed if Australia is to respond to the increase in steroid use effectively. 2015 Journal Article http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30379 10.3109/09687637.2015.1061975 Taylor and Francis Ltd restricted
spellingShingle Seear, Kate
Fraser, Suzanne
Moore, David
Murphy, Dean
Understanding and responding to anabolic steroid injecting and hepatitis C risk in Australia: A research agenda
title Understanding and responding to anabolic steroid injecting and hepatitis C risk in Australia: A research agenda
title_full Understanding and responding to anabolic steroid injecting and hepatitis C risk in Australia: A research agenda
title_fullStr Understanding and responding to anabolic steroid injecting and hepatitis C risk in Australia: A research agenda
title_full_unstemmed Understanding and responding to anabolic steroid injecting and hepatitis C risk in Australia: A research agenda
title_short Understanding and responding to anabolic steroid injecting and hepatitis C risk in Australia: A research agenda
title_sort understanding and responding to anabolic steroid injecting and hepatitis c risk in australia: a research agenda
url http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11937/30379