PEDs and the PCP: A Primer on Performance Enhancing Drugs

---

Performance-enhancing drug (PED) use, including anabolic androgenic steroid (AAS), is widespread in the US.  Most PED users are typically male, motivated to improve muscularity and strength, and not necessarily performance.  This represents a public health concern with potentially serious medical and psychiatric consequences; yet many physicians report inadequate education about this subject.

Learning Objectives:

Following the completion of this lecture, the participant will be able to:

1. Know where to find a list of banned substances for sports and understand the purpose of a therapeutic use exemption (TUE).
2. Identify the main categories of both anabolic androgenic steroids (AAS’s) and drugs that increase endogenous AAS.
3. Summarize the positive (desired) and negative (adverse) effects of AAS usage.
4. Understand the best diagnostic test for AAS detection in the general public.
5. Recognize “harm reduction” as a useful approach to connecting with patients who use PEDs.
6. Describe four medical management strategies for patients desiring to stop AAS usage.