HED Databank

The Doping Authority Netherlands (Dopingautoriteit) has developed an international knowledge database that contains a diverse range of documents related to doping and anti-doping, including scientific articles and research reports. You can visit the database here: www.doping.nl

Built on the cumulative strength and complementary portfolios of anti-doping researchers, representatives of anti-doping organisations and athletes, the Clean Sport Alliance brings contemporary thinkers and practitioners together to foster high quality doping research and evidence-informed doping prevention. They have produced a range of resources including these Athlete Voices videos. They also produced a film series raising awareness of issues Athlete Support Personnel (ASP) working in non-disabled and para-sport face with respect to clean sport and invited several international para-athletes to voice their thoughts and opinions on clean sport and anti-doping.

The internet is a powerful force for good, but can also have damaging effects on the health and wellbeing of people. Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) includes a variety of behaviours such excessive gambling, gaming, pornography watching, social media use and compulsive shopping among others. It often affects young people and those suffering from mental disorders and in many cases it becomes amplified as a result of the social isolation and increased reliance on digital communication arising during the COVID-19 pandemic.

PUI is responsible for considerable burden and suffering for afflicted individuals and their families.

A group of researchers within the COST Action CA16207 – the European Network for Problematic Usage of the Internet (PUI) worked with artists to bring new and excellent research in the field to a wider audience, while raising awareness about the risks associated with such behaviours and providing innovative solutions. You can access the resources HERE.

Street Drugs Discussions is a webinar series which discusses different topics in relation to alcohol and other drug use and supply.

They also organised one focused on human enhancement drugs entitled, “Deep Dive into Steroid use”. The webinar can be accessed HERE.

Follow Dr James Morgan on Twitter for updates about the next topic for Street Drugs Discussions.

Exchange Supplies is a social enterprise set up to improve the harm reduction response to drug use by developing innovative quality products, publications, and films for drug services, needle exchanges, and injecting drug users, and providing employment and training opportunities for drug users.

They also produced an information postcard on safer injecting of anabolic-androgenic steroids, advice on reducing the risk of injecting into muscle, and side effects. This updated 2nd edition of the card, published in March 2016, provides information about the effects of steroids and includes tips on safer injecting technique.

Make sure to also check out their other information regarding steroids, for example, the Guide To Steroids, or the Practitioner’s Guide to Steroids (poster).

Project SAFE YOU was founded by the Erasmus+ Sport Programme of the European Commission. It was created to assess the prevalence of performance enhancing drugs (PEDs) in recreational and competitive sports, as well as the psychological risk factors involved in their use. Based on the findings, several resources were developed including an interactive, web-based, educational videos that helps athletes and exercisers make informed choices about PED use. You can access the videos HERE.

Due to the lack of accredited steroid and image enhancing drug (SIED) training in Wales and a high demand for such training amongst front-line and secondary services working with SIED users, Public Health Wales (alongside NewLink Wales) has developed a training package designed to improve learner’s confidence and awareness of SIEDs and associated issues.

The training package, delivered by a selection of accredited trainers covers topics such as: how SIEDs work and methods of use, motivations for use, the law, common types of SIEDs, risks and complications, and practical harm reduction information and advice. See the SIED training materials.

For further information surrounding training courses near you please contact: admin@siedsinfo.co.uk.

Linnell Communications is a business established by Michael Linnell in 2014. It provides:

• Consultancy services on drug (including steroids), alcohol and public health research and communications;
• Consultancy services on establishing and maintaining local drug early warning systems;
• Information product design for drugs (including steroids), alcohol and public health campaigns;
• Bespoke design and illustrations services

Linnell Communications has also produced a range of visuals regarding steroids and other image enhancing drugs. See their visuals regarding steriods and other image enhancing drugs.

The SSAC’s PIEDs portal aims to offer a dedicated publicly accessible research resource presenting project findings and other relevant material for interested researchers, health practitioners, policymakers and consumers. It also aims to support and allow people who use PIEDs to anonymously access information.

The PIEDs portal aims to inform public discussions of image and performance-enhancing drug use, to counter stigmatising misconceptions, to promote understanding and to better equip the health workforce to respond effectively.

Find more information about the PIEDs portal.

Over the last few decades, the use of Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs (IPEDs) has become more widespread. Alongside this increase in use, there has been an associated rise in the number of reported infections and complications associated with IPED use.

This website and supporting resources, developed by Public Health Wales, in conjunction with partners at the Centre for Public Health, Liverpool John Moores University, aims to provide reliable and evidence based information and advice to reduce the harms associated with the use of IPEDs.

Public Health Wales is an NHS organisation providing professionally independent public health advice and services to protect and improve the health and wellbeing of the population. Access their IPED Info website.

On this website they offer a range of educational resources, including the safer injecting of anabolic-androgenic steroids video.

Leeds Beckett University has produced a video which details the lived experiences of three individuals who blew the whistle on doping.

We are pleased to inform you that the GP Guide to harm minimisation for patients using non-prescribed anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) and other performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) is now freely available online via the Sydney North Health Network (SNHN). The Guide covers topics such as assessment, red flags and management tips, and has four skill-based webinars that cover a range of topics in this area (e.g. how to manage a patient who is not yet ready to stop).

This Guide was developed by Dr Katinka van de Ven, Dr Beng Eu, Dr Eva Jackson, Dr Esther Han, Dr Nicole Gouda, Ms Pat Simmonds and Mr Craig Parsons. It involved an extensive review and consultations with health professionals working in this field.

You can access the Guide HERE.

A PDF-version will become available for download soon.

If you have questions, feel free to contact Dr Katinka van de Ven.

This site provides information on what PIEDs are, the risks, safer injection techniques and other harm reduction information.

> Access the site here