Abstract
The use of performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) among active mili-tary personnel and veterans presents a public health concern. Deeper understanding of PIEDs use in those populations is necessary to understand what underpins their use and provide information to help shape interventions with the aim of reducing impacts on individuals’ health, wellbeing, social circumstances, public perception and, in serving personnel, any wider military performance. A contemporary review was conducted using five academic journal databases, citation searching, and hand searching. Studies were excluded if published prior to 2000 or did not specify PIEDs use. Following this search, 20 studies were identified for review. Findings suggest that anabolic steroids and weight-loss supplements were the most used PIEDs. Image enhancement was mentioned the most as a reason for PIEDs use followed by keeping up with the physical and emotional demands of active duty. Additionally, findings suggested that young, male non-commissioned Army personnel were most likely to use PIEDs. There were clear gaps in the current literature surrounding PIEDs use, as well as an understanding of when service personnel began using PIEDs. Further research should aim to answer these questions.
Highlights
The use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDS) and substances in sport has caused concerns for many sporting governing bodies
This review aimed to collate and critically review existing literature in the area of performance and image enhancing drugs (PIEDs) use among active military personnel and veterans
One paper identified during the search was conducted using a solely veteran population, which was a case study reporting PIEDs use by a single veteran
Summary
The use of performance enhancing drugs (PEDS) and substances in sport has caused concerns for many sporting governing bodies. The use of performance enhancing drugs in sports typically includes the use of anabolic steroids, human growth hormones, erythropoietin (EPO), stimulants, and similar substances. PEDS use has become well-documented within sporting literature, with recreational athletes being the largest users.[1] A further study in Denmark highlighted that within recreational athletes it was young men who were most likely to use PEDS.[2] Findings from research conducted in the UK identify young male gym goers as the primary users of PEDS.[3,4] Whereas there is increasing
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