‘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

Piatkowski, Timothy; Cox, Luke

doi:10.1111/dar.13857

Journal article 316 views 108 downloads

‘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

Timothy Piatkowski

, Luke Cox

Drug and Alcohol Review, Volume: 43, Issue: 7, Pages: 1976 - 1984

Swansea University Author: Luke Cox

PDF | Version of Record

© 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.
Download (768.55KB)

Check full text

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...

Full description

Published in:	Drug and Alcohol Review
ISSN:	0959-5236 1465-3362
Published:	Wiley 2024
Online Access:	Check full text
URI:	https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa69516

first_indexed	2025-05-15T08:33:51Z
last_indexed	2025-06-13T13:32:16Z
id	cronfa69516
recordtype	SURis
fullrecord	<?xml version="1.0"?><rfc1807><datestamp>2025-06-12T15:25:54.5533909</datestamp><bib-version>v2</bib-version><id>69516</id><entry>2025-05-15</entry><title>‘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</title><swanseaauthors><author><sid>9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d</sid><ORCID>0000-0001-7625-4603</ORCID><firstname>Luke</firstname><surname>Cox</surname><name>Luke Cox</name><active>true</active><ethesisStudent>false</ethesisStudent></author></swanseaauthors><date>2025-05-15</date><deptcode>EAAS</deptcode><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.</abstract><type>Journal Article</type><journal>Drug and Alcohol Review</journal><volume>43</volume><journalNumber>7</journalNumber><paginationStart>1976</paginationStart><paginationEnd>1984</paginationEnd><publisher>Wiley</publisher><placeOfPublication/><isbnPrint/><isbnElectronic/><issnPrint>0959-5236</issnPrint><issnElectronic>1465-3362</issnElectronic><keywords>harm reduction, injecting, insulin, public health, steroids</keywords><publishedDay>1</publishedDay><publishedMonth>11</publishedMonth><publishedYear>2024</publishedYear><publishedDate>2024-11-01</publishedDate><doi>10.1111/dar.13857</doi><url/><notes/><college>COLLEGE NANME</college><department>Engineering and Applied Sciences School</department><CollegeCode>COLLEGE CODE</CollegeCode><DepartmentCode>EAAS</DepartmentCode><institution>Swansea University</institution><apcterm>Another institution paid the OA fee</apcterm><funders>Open access publishing facilitated by Griffith University, as part of the Wiley - Griffith University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians.</funders><projectreference/><lastEdited>2025-06-12T15:25:54.5533909</lastEdited><Created>2025-05-15T09:30:39.4998241</Created><path><level id="1">Faculty of Science and Engineering</level><level id="2">School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences</level></path><authors><author><firstname>Timothy</firstname><surname>Piatkowski</surname><orcid>0000-0002-6177-0266</orcid><order>1</order></author><author><firstname>Luke</firstname><surname>Cox</surname><orcid>0000-0001-7625-4603</orcid><order>2</order></author></authors><documents><document><filename>69516__34280__1526415f965d421d84fafc5ccf26f920.pdf</filename><originalFilename>69516.pdf</originalFilename><uploaded>2025-05-15T09:33:00.3872177</uploaded><type>Output</type><contentLength>786998</contentLength><contentType>application/pdf</contentType><version>Version of Record</version><cronfaStatus>true</cronfaStatus><documentNotes>© 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.</documentNotes><copyrightCorrect>true</copyrightCorrect><language>eng</language><licence>http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/</licence></document></documents><OutputDurs/></rfc1807>
spelling	2025-06-12T15:25:54.5533909 v2 69516 2025-05-15 ‘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 9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d 0000-0001-7625-4603 Luke Cox Luke Cox true false 2025-05-15 EAAS 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. Journal Article Drug and Alcohol Review 43 7 1976 1984 Wiley 0959-5236 1465-3362 harm reduction, injecting, insulin, public health, steroids 1 11 2024 2024-11-01 10.1111/dar.13857 COLLEGE NANME Engineering and Applied Sciences School COLLEGE CODE EAAS Swansea University Another institution paid the OA fee Open access publishing facilitated by Griffith University, as part of the Wiley - Griffith University agreement via the Council of Australian University Librarians. 2025-06-12T15:25:54.5533909 2025-05-15T09:30:39.4998241 Faculty of Science and Engineering School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences Timothy Piatkowski 0000-0002-6177-0266 1 Luke Cox 0000-0001-7625-4603 2 69516__34280__1526415f965d421d84fafc5ccf26f920.pdf 69516.pdf 2025-05-15T09:33:00.3872177 Output 786998 application/pdf Version of Record true © 2024 The Authors. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. true eng http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
title	‘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
spellingShingle	‘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 Luke Cox
title_short	‘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
title_full	‘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
title_fullStr	‘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
title_full_unstemmed	‘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
title_sort	‘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
author_id_str_mv	9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d
author_id_fullname_str_mv	9811ac84cad867903c385bf7086dfd2d_***_Luke Cox
author	Luke Cox
author2	Timothy Piatkowski Luke Cox
format	Journal article
container_title	Drug and Alcohol Review
container_volume	43
container_issue	7
container_start_page	1976
publishDate	2024
institution	Swansea University
issn	0959-5236 1465-3362
doi_str_mv	10.1111/dar.13857
publisher	Wiley
college_str	Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchytype
hierarchy_top_id	facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_top_title	Faculty of Science and Engineering
hierarchy_parent_id	facultyofscienceandengineering
hierarchy_parent_title	Faculty of Science and Engineering
department_str	School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences{{{_:::_}}}Faculty of Science and Engineering{{{_:::_}}}School of Engineering and Applied Sciences - Sport and Exercise Sciences
document_store_str	1
active_str	0
description	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.
published_date	2024-11-01T05:30:17Z
_version_	1856896203715772416
score	11.095902

‘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

Similar Items