Big business: The private sector market for image and performance enhancing drug harm reduction in the UK
File version
Version of Record (VoR)
Author(s)
Gibbs, Nick
Turnock, Luke
Cox, Luke
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
Size
File type(s)
Location
Abstract
This article draws on three mutually independent ethnographic studies to explore the private sector market for image and performance enhancing drug (IPED) harm reduction in the UK, specifically examining (1) steroid accessory supplements; (2) blood testing services; and (3) bloodletting services. After contextualising the work with a discussion of IPED use and harm reduction and the substantial growth of the global health and fitness industry, each private sector provision is critically interrogated with the following questions in mind: what is the role and utility of these services compared to public sector provision? Why has the private sector begun to deliver IPED harm reduction products and services in the UK? And how does this provision relate to the health and fitness industry more broadly? The paper concludes with some reflections about the future direction of IPED harm reduction, the importance of community-led services, and the need to think innovatively if we are to best protect users’ health and wellbeing.
Journal Title
International Journal of Drug Policy
Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume
122
Issue
Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Publisher link
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
© 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject
Health policy
Public health
Crime policy
Policy and administration
Persistent link to this record
Citation
Piatkowski, T; Gibbs, N; Turnock, L; Cox, L, Big business: The private sector market for image and performance enhancing drug harm reduction in the UK, International Journal of Drug Policy, 2023, 122, pp. 104254