“I Feel Like I’m Walking the Line; One Side It’s Manageable, the Other Side It’s F**king prison”: exploring the Dual Nature of User-Manufacturers of Image and Performance Enhancing Drugs

ABSTRACT

This Bourdieusian study interrogates the practices of an Australian-based “user-manufacturer” of image and performance enhancing drugs (IPEDs). Extending the concept of illicit drug “user-dealers”, we draw upon a case study of an IPED user-manufacturer, “Meiko”, to interrogate steroid-user habitus, the importance of reputation and community trust, and the minimization of risk through referral-only interactions and low-profile branding. Findings reveal a user-manufacturer community engaged in domestic production of IPEDs, aided by Chinese suppliers of raw powders who have set up facilities in Australia. This research highlights the complex dynamics underlying the underground market for IPEDs, emphasizing the interplay between cultural, economic, and bodily capital, and the strategic responses of user-manufacturers to their social context while challenging traditional notions of rational choice.

Acknowledgements

Our sincere thanks go to Meiko for his candor, enthusiasm, and time. This work could not have been possible without him.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Timothy Piatkowski

Dr Timothy Piatkowski is a lecturer in applied psychology at Griffith University within the School of Applied Psychology within the Centre for Mental Health and the Health and Psychology Research Innovations Laboratory. His work is focused on harm reduction and his research currently involves building capacity among healthcare providers and recognition among policymakers regarding performance and image enhancing drug consumers.

Nick Gibbs

Dr Nick Gibbs is a Lecturer in Criminology at Northumbria University. Dr Gibbs’ research focuses on image and performance enhancing drug use and supply, as well as work related to gym culture and harm reduction.

Matthew Dunn

Dr. Matthew Dunn is a senior lecturer at Deakin University, in public health and health promotion. Dr. Dunn specialises in researching substance use and harm, specifically monitoring trends in use and harm, as well as researching the use and harms associated with performance and image enhancing drugs.