Managing patients who use performance and image-enhancing drugs

The use of androgenic steroids, peptides and other performance- and image-enhancing drugs is becoming common for some groups of Australian males, placing their health at risk and presenting challenges to health professionals.

Patients may not reveal their use of performance- and image-enhancing drugs for various reasons, which may complicate the diagnosis and treatment of related health problems. The complex combinations and patterns of use of performance- and image-enhancing drugs can cause further complications.

Practitioners who are aware of patients’ use of performance- and image-enhancing drugs must avoid complicity.

The ultimate goal of care for users of performance- and image-enhancing drugs should be cessation, with treatment of adverse effects and counselling until that time.

Learning Objectives:

1. Demonstrate how to counsel patients who use performance and image-enhancing drugs

2. Implement testing to detect adverse effects of the use of performance and image-enhancing drugs

3. Display capacity to influence positive behaviour change of patients who use performance and image-enhancing drugs including the cessation of the use of performance- and image-enhancing drugs

4. Outline strategies to minimise harm associated with performance and image-enhancing drug use.

This is a Medcast Continuing Medical Education (CME) course.