ID: HR19-574

Presenting author: Katinka van de Ven

Presenting author biography:

Van de Ven specializes in the use and supply of performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs), which includes projects surrounding the prevention of PIED use, harm reduction policies and improving healthcare services for users.

Working with people who use performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs): engagement workshop targeted at healthcare professionals

Katinka van de Ven, Tjeerd de Zeeuw, William Wood, Joseph Kean

Background:
There are indications that people across the globe are increasingly using performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs), such as steroids, to help them meet their ‘body-image-related goals’. While many of the PIED use related harms are superficial (e.g. acne), there are more severe physical (e.g. cardiovascular disease) and psychological (e.g. dependence) problems. In addition, many people who use PIEDs, inject their drugs and are therefore at risk of injecting related harms. Yet, healthcare professionals, from clinical psychologists to GPs and NSP workers, generally report difficulties engaging with PIED users, which is exacerbated by a lack of knowledge about these substances. Effective education for healthcare professionals on PIEDs is therefore urgently needed.

Workshop format:
The format of the workshop will be a combination of presentations and interactive activities. The workshop brings together 4 international experts in the field of PIEDs. A researcher, outreach worker, harm reduction specialist, and peer worker will discuss PIED use from a ‘hands on‘ approach, referring to both scientific and practical experience. Recent tools in regard to PIED prevention and harm reduction, and how these can potentially be implemented into the daily practice of service providers, are presented.

Topics covered:
•Introduction to unique risks and needs of people who use PIEDs.
•What issues need to be taken into consideration in harm reduction for people who use PIEDs?
•The pros and cons of the different prevention and harm reduction approaches for people who use PIEDs.
•What makes a PIED harm reduction initiative a success or failure? Discussing real life examples.
•Evidence and action
•Case studies

Learning outcomes:
The workshop aims to achieve the following learning objectives:
1) To increase health workers’ understanding of issues that are relevant to PIED users; and
2) Gain skills in developing appropriate harm reduction services to PIED users.