ArticleAddiction (Abingdon, England)2025
The world's first anabolic-androgenic steroid testing trial: A two-phase pilot combining chemical analysis, results dissemination and community feedback.
Article in Addiction (Abingdon, England), 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 14 papers.
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The trial behind it
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Who cites it
14 citing papers in PubMed.
- Making 'safer injecting' matter for people who inject image and performance enhancing drugs.Health (London, England : 1997) · 2026Article
- Foreword: the enhanced games-human enhancement, risk, and harm reduction in a post-doping era.Harm reduction journal · 2026Article
- Anabolic Androgenic Steroids: Emerging Use Disorder, Mechanisms of Action, and Clinical Considerations for Pharmacotherapy.Focus (American Psychiatric Publishing) · 2026Article
- Confidence in Managing Use and Minimising Harm as Mediators of Quality of Life among Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Consumers in Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Settings.European addiction research · 2026Article
- Understanding Age-Based Differences in Psychosocial Harms, Physical Harms, and Access Difficulties Among an International Sample of Men Who Use Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids.American journal of lifestyle medicine · 2025Article
- Co-producing a peer-led health conversation tool for the health services workforce to facilitate safer use of anabolic-androgenic steroids.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
- Associations in intentions to use anabolic-androgenic steroids among non-consuming boys and men with probable eating disorders and muscle dysmorphia.Journal of eating disorders · 2025Article
- Bigger than sport: the enhanced games and the commodification of telehealth, testosterone, and dependency.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
- Creating Safer Injecting Practices Through Community-Led Harm Reduction: Lessons From People Who Use Steroids for the Alcohol and Other Drug Sector.Drug and alcohol review · 2025Article
- Looking for the Best Way to Come Off Steroids Safely? Exploring Post-Cycle Therapy, Cessation, and Recovery Discourse and Practice in Australian Steroid Consumer Forums.Drug and alcohol review · 2025Article
- Lead Astray? The Hidden Contaminants in Australian Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Market and Their Potential Health Impact.Drug and alcohol review · 2025Article
- Anabolic-androgenic steroid testing as a tool for consumer engagement and harm reduction: a sequential explanatory mixed-method study.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
- The world's first anabolic-androgenic steroid testing trial: A two-phase pilot combining chemical analysis, results dissemination and community feedback.Addiction (Abingdon, England) · 2025Article
- Evaluation of implementing drug checking services for anabolic androgenic steroids in Switzerland: a pilot study.Harm reduction journal · 2025Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
14 authors.
Funding
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND
aimsThe clandestine production and distribution of anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) poses health risks due to the uncertainty of their contents. This study aimed to test the chemical content of AAS samples and provide aggregate results back to the community, exploring how these results influenced usage decisions and risk management.
designA mixed-methods approach was used, combining chemical analysis of AAS samples with qualitative interviews. Participants submitted samples for testing, and the results were later shared with them. Semi-structured interviews explored participants' perceptions of AAS risks and the impact of testing results on their behaviour.
settingThe study was conducted at CheQpoint drug checking service in Brisbane, Australia.
participantsThirty-two samples were submitted for testing between 19 April and 7 June 2024, with 23 samples analysed. A total of 25 active AAS users participated in interviews. MEASUREMENTS: Chemical analyses identified substances present and assessed active ingredient concentrations. Qualitative interviews gathered participants' perceptions, and these data were analysed through iterative categorisation, guided by the Health Belief Model.
findingsChemical analysis identified that 13% of samples contained substances different from what was expected. Concentrations of active ingredients were close to expected levels [e.g. testosterone propionate at 96.2 mg/mL (range = 91.39-101.01 mg/mL)]. Interviews identified four key theme categories. Participants sought testing primarily for substance verification, expressing concerns about contamination and dosage. Barriers to testing included limited access and fear of disclosure. While testing was seen as a valuable harm reduction tool, gaps in health guidance and follow-up support were identified as areas for improvement.
conclusionsThirteen percent of 23 anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) samples analysed contained substances different from what was expected. Interviews with active AAS users highlighted the need for reliable information, accessible testing services and tailored health approaches for AAS use.
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Registered trials
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