Mixed-methods research on androgen abuse - a review.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This paper reviews the mixed-methods studies from the last 2 years (2021-2022) into androgen use to highlight the most relevant developments within the field. RECENT FINDINGS: The literature review found seven papers from 2021 to 2022. These seven cover a range of important considerations, including interventions to reduce androgen use, educational tools to increase professionals' knowledge, explorations on the comorbidity of use with other substances, motivations for use, potential risks factors for androgens' initiation, or risks of using androgens. Key findings include a greater understanding of motivations for use, particularly in females and older males; identification of potential risks for starting use/using androgens; benefits of including practical strength exercises in preventive intervention programmes and the efficacy of e-learning tools to increase professionals' knowledge of androgens use, as well as an increase in their confidence to support androgen users. SUMMARY: The key implications for clinical practice are that we still need to support healthcare professionals to overcome the barriers for increasing their skills and knowledge around androgen use. A recognition that people who have become dependent on androgen use are potentially at risk of considerable harm, with further research needed into sub-groups of androgen users. VIDEO ABSTRACT: , http://links.lww.com/COE/A35.

Support for people who use Anabolic Androgenic Steroids: A Systematic Scoping Review into what they want and what they access.

BACKGROUND: 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. METHODS: 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. RESULTS: 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. DISCUSSION: 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. CONCLUSIONS: 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.