EditorialHuman enhancement drugs: Emerging issues and responses
Section snippets
Motivations for use of ‘enhancement drugs’
While the use of drugs for human enhancement is a long-standing phenomenon, it has most commonly been described among those who engage in sporting activities, in particular elite-level sport and bodybuilding (Kanayama & Pope, 2018). However, as this collection illustrates, drugs can be used with the aim of enhancing many aspects of life - appearance, performance and functioning – e.g. building muscle, stimulating creativity, improving cognition and functioning, increasing stamina and
Populations
The use of drugs for muscular enhancement, particularly the use of AAS, is arguably the most studied aspect of human enhancement drug use, in part due to its historical association with doping in sport. AAS use outside of sport has been predominantly studied amongst men. Whilst AAS use appears to be much more common among men than women, AAS are still used by a substantial number of women. Although women's bodies are at a significantly greater risk of harm from AAS use, very little research has
Range of drugs used for enhancement
The range of drugs being used for enhancement is increasing, with new substances often first emerging among groups already using established enhancement drugs. The use of drugs for muscular enhancement has typically centred on the use of AAS and associated drugs, however the use of a range of other substances has also emerged amongst the enhanced bodybuilding population over the last 35 years. McVeigh, Salinas and Ralphs (2021) in their commentary explore the emergence of a number of substances
Closing thoughts
As there can be multiple reasons, for the use of a drug, the ’categorisation’ of the use of that drug can thus be blurred. For example, a type of drug that can be used for ‘enhancement’ may also have therapeutic uses. However, simply pointing out that drugs can have both therapeutic and enhancement uses does not render this distinction meaningless, or imply that these different uses do not warrant different ethical and policy responses. The complexities in the categorisation of the use of
Declarations of Interest
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
References (37)
- et al.
Rethinking enhancement substance use: A critical discourse studies approach
International Journal of Drug Policy
(2021) - et al.
Performance and image enhancing drug interventions aimed at increasing knowledge among healthcare professionals (HCP): Reflections on the implementation of the Dopinglinkki e-module in Europe and Australia in the HCP workforce
International Journal of Drug Policy
(2021) - et al.
Enhancement motivations for using prescription drugs among young adults in Nigeria
International Journal of Drug Policy
(2021) - et al.
The pharmaceuticalisation of 'healthy' ageing: Testosterone enhancement for longevity
International Journal of Drug Policy
(2021) - et al.
Anabolic steroid use among gay and bisexual men living in Australia and New Zealand: Associations with demographics, body dissatisfaction, eating disorder psychopathology, and quality of life
Drug and Alcohol Dependence
(2017) - et al.
Review of sexualized drug use associated with sexually transmitted and blood-borne infections in gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men
Drug and alcohol Alcohol dependence Dependence
(2020) - et al.
Anabolic-androgenic steroid use among women—A qualitative study on experiences of masculinizing, gonadal and sexual effects
International Journal of Drug Policy
(2021) - et al.
Image and performance enhancing drug use among men who have sex with men and women who have sex with women in the UK
International Journal of Drug Policy
(2021) - et al.
A narrative systematic review of sexualised drug use and sexual health outcomes among LGBT people
International Journal of Drug Policy
(2021) - et al.
History and epidemiology of anabolic androgens in athletes and non-athletes
Molecular and Cellular Endocrinology
(2018)
Substance-linked sex in heterosexual, homosexual, and bisexual men and women: An online, cross-sectional “global drug survey” report
The Journal of Sexual Medicine
Sociological investigations of human enhancement drugs: The case of microdosing psychedelics
International Journal of Drug Policy
Cognitive enhancing drug use by students in the context of neoliberalism: Cheating? Or, a legitimate expression of competitive entrepreneurialism?
International Journal of Drug Policy
A sentinel population: The public health benefits of monitoring enhanced body builders
International Journal of Drug Policy
Pharmacosex: Reimagining sex, drugs and enhancement
International Journal of Drug Policy
Testosterone, identity and the body: Exploring cultural definitions of disorder
International Journal of Drug Policy
Steroid Madness- has the dark side of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) been over-stated?
Performance Enhancement & Health
#studydrugs-persuasive posting on Instagram
International Journal of Drug Policy
Cited by (4)
“They sent it away for testing and it was all bunk”: Exploring perspectives on drug checking among steroid consumers in Queensland, Australia
2023, International Journal of Drug PolicyCognitive enhancing drug use amongst students in (neoliberal) higher education: a functional response
2023, Drugs: Education, Prevention and PolicyInstrumentalising therapeutic and enhancement drugs as pharmacological technologies with politicogenic drug effects
2023, Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy