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‘Insulin is super dangerous if you don't know what you're doing’: Situating the risks of insulin within the image and performance enhancing drug community
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Luke Cox
Drug and Alcohol Review, Volume: 43, Issue: 7, Pages: 1976 - 1984
Swansea University Author:
Luke Cox
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© 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
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DOI (Published version): 10.1111/dar.13857
Abstract
IntroductionInsulin is an essential treatment within diabetes management; however, it takes on a role of enhancement within image and performance enhancing drug (IPED) communities due to its anabolic effects. This study sought to provide insight into how IPED users perceive and manage the risks link...
| Published in: | Drug and Alcohol Review |
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| ISSN: | 0959-5236 1465-3362 |
| Published: |
Wiley
2024
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| Online Access: |
Check full text
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| URI: | https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69516 |
| Abstract: |
IntroductionInsulin is an essential treatment within diabetes management; however, it takes on a role of enhancement within image and performance enhancing drug (IPED) communities due to its anabolic effects. This study sought to provide insight into how IPED users perceive and manage the risks linked to insulin.MethodsWe conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 individuals from Australia and United Kingdom who used insulin as part of their IPED protocols. The analysis followed an iterative categorisation approach and applied the lens of situated rationality theory.ResultsThe decision to incorporate insulin was influenced by peers' experiences and preferences. Participants highlighted the risks and responsibilities associated with insulin use, emphasising the need for precise lifestyle habits. They recognised the potential dangers and called for comprehensive harm reduction strategies within IPED communities to respond to such concerns. Some participants expressed reluctance to discuss insulin openly, underlining the importance of education and awareness to mitigate health risks associated with underground and uninformed use.Discussion and ConclusionsWhile people who use IPEDs demonstrate awareness of the risks associated with insulin, their practices of routinisation moderate these risks within the context of IPED use. Silence as a risk-reduction strategy highlights vulnerabilities among certain prospective users, while the hierarchical structure of IPED use establishes expertise and status within the community. Reconsidering insulin risks entails reframing harm reduction messages to better match the social dynamics of IPED communities. Closer ties between IPED communities can enhance support accessibility, particularly through peers, who, with their firsthand knowledge, can offer tailored guidance. |
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| Keywords: |
harm reduction, injecting, insulin, public health, steroids |
| College: |
Faculty of Science and Engineering |
| Funders: |
Open access publishing facilitated by Griffith University, as part of the Wiley - Griffith University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians. |
| Issue: |
7 |
| Start Page: |
1976 |
| End Page: |
1984 |