More coverage of this important issue - #peptides

@theaustralian.bsky.social

www.theaustralian.com.au/health/medic...

Peptides promise a lot – but are they safe? A black market is flourishing for new injectable drugs that have yet to be properly tested for safety and effectiveness.

@smh @theage collab w. me on covering #peptides

Great to get coverage of the translational research programs I lead through UQ (w many partners) - like Steroid QNECT.

www.smh.com.au/business/com...

www.abc.net.au/news/2026-04...

Injectable peptides are the new anti-ageing trend. But what evidence do we have they’re safe for humans? Once taboo, injecting is becoming normalised in the beauty industry and on social media. But what do peptide serums actually contain? And do the anti-ageing claims stack up?

New in @theconvo-bot.bsky.social @theconversation.com

Pleased to be able to address the rise of synthetic injectable peptides.

@uqchsr.bsky.social

theconversation.com/injectable-p...

@jasonferris22.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @karenblakey.bsky.social

@curtinuniversity.bsky.social @griffith.edu.au

Behavioural Intentions Associated with Exposure to Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Testing Results: A Two-Phase, Multi-Wave Intervention Trial - Timothy Piatkowski, Ross Coomber, Cameron Francis, Emma Kil... Introduction: People who use anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) face health risks from illicit markets and limited tailored harm reduction services. This study ...

Wave 3 (n=105 samples) from our World First Steroid Checking Trial in @sajamersa.bsky.social: 22% mislabelled 50% underdosed. Health behaviour change (n=117px) was driven by quality concern.

@uqchsr.bsky.social
@swanseauni.bsky.social
@burnetinstitute.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1177/2976...

New in @tandfresearch.bsky.social w Dom, David, & @drmdunn1.bsky.social

Among men who use steroids (n=273), younger men reported higher aggression, with aggression decreasing with age.

@uqchsr.bsky.social @griffithcmh.bsky.social @deakinuniversity.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1080/1465...

📢 CFP. The Enhanced Games: Human Enhancement, Risk, and Harm Reduction in a Post-Doping Era
📅 16 Dec 2026

🔗 link.springer.com/collections/...

Eds: Me, Luke Cox, Kyle Ganson, Imran Khan.

@uqchsr.bsky.social
@swanseauni.bsky.social
@uoft-fifsw.bsky.social
@springernature.com

What anabolic–androgenic steroids reveal about the limits of current harm reduction models Background Harm reduction has largely been shaped by responses to psychoactive drug use where the most urgent harms are acute. These models focus on overdose, blood-borne viruses, and rapid-onset to...

New in @addictionjournal.bsky.social w @jasonmnagata.bsky.social & @drsuzinielsen.bsky.social

Our new paper argues it’s time to rethink policy and health responses for ppl who use steroids.

@uqchsr.bsky.social @ucsfchildrens.bsky.social @monashaddiction.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1111/add....

Mens health influencers can be a load of bollocks - Medical Republic Growing concerns over testosterone and ‘manosphere’ influencers is prompting experts to speak out against misinformation.

“What that’s done is left a real vacuum, and obviously people have come to fill it, and that just happens to be influencers and people with commercial interests,” Senior research fellow from the @uqchsr.bsky.social Dr Piatkowski told The Medical Republic

www.medicalrepublic.com.au/mens-health-...

Needle service provider trends for image and performance enhancing drugs in Queensland, Australia 2016–2023 Image and performance-enhancing drug (IPED) use is an emerging health concern in Australia, particularly within needle and syringe programs (NSPs). This study examined trends in IPED equipment acce...

New collab in @deppjournal.bsky.social, Lead: Mostafa

Finding show we need targeted, age-appropriate harm reduction and alternative service delivery models.

@jasonferris22.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social et al.

@uqchsr.bsky.social @cretobacco.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1080/0968...

‘Catastrophic’: Teenagers as young as 14 buying peptides online Experts say peptides are now a bigger problem than steroids because more people use them and slick marketing on social media understates their risks.

Here in Australia our unregulated peptide market represents a HUGE problem, particularly for our young people.

@uqchsr.bsky.social
@aivl.bsky.social

Read Here: www.afr.com/life-and-lux...

New Collab in @ijdrugpolicy.bsky.social

We interviewed 30 PWIDs who were recently incarcerated in QLD - Aus. These accounts demonstrate how prisons reproduce BBV & bacterial infection risk among PWIDs.

doi.org/10.1016/j.dr...

@uqchsr.bsky.social
@griffithcmh.bsky.social
@aivl.bsky.social

Steroid use is 'exploding' in Australia — but quitting is a lonely road A rising number of Australians are using steroids. But one expert says a lack of knowledge and widespread stigma make it tough to get clinical support.

Thank you @abcnewsbot.bsky.social

we need to start work on evidence based cessation and recovery plans for people who use steroids.

@uqchsr.bsky.social
@aivl.bsky.social

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12...

Across a large #GDS international sample, younger men who use #steroids experience greater harms and more difficulty accessing care than older men. We need targeted, age-responsive harm reduction.

Understanding Age-Based Differences in Psychosocial Harms, Physical Harms, and Access Difficulties Among an International Sample of Men Who Use Anabolic-Androgenic Steroids - Benjamin Bonenti, Vigorou... Background: Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use is rising globally. However, age-related differences in harms and health care access barriers remain underexpl...

3rd #GDS2024 #steroid pub
Lead: Ben Bonenti; Rockstars: @jasonferris22.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social @proflaurenball.bsky.social + more.

@uqchsr.bsky.social @uqcchw.bsky.social @griffithcmh.bsky.social @kingscollegelondon.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1177/1559...

The Prevalence of Anabolic‐Androgenic Steroid Use Among Same‐Sex Attracted Men: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta‐Analysis Issues This review aimed to estimate the prevalence of non-medical anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use among same-sex attracted men (SSM). Approach We conducted a systematic review of peer-revie.....

🆕The Prevalence of Anabolic-Androgenic #Steroid Use Among Same-Sex Attracted Men: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis

Nicholas Pascual, @piatkowskitim.bsky.social, Eric H. Y. Lau, Matthew Dunn

doi.org/10.1111/dar....

@deakinuniversity.bsky.social @griffith.edu.au

Toward a Coordinated Global Response to Anabolic‐Androgenic Steroid Consumption: Lessons From the World's Current Steroid Checking Initiatives Anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) use presents a growing global public health issue. Despite evidence of significant physical, psychological and social harms, responses to non-medical AAS use remain ....

New collab in @apsad-dar.bsky.social with Raphael.

Drawing on the Australian and Swiss steroid checking pilots, we call for a coordinated global response.

@uqchsr.bsky.social @griffithcmh.bsky.social @ethz.ch @apsad-emcr.bsky.social @aivl.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1111/dar....

Co-producing a peer-led health conversation tool for the health services workforce to facilitate safer use of anabolic–androgenic steroids - Harm Reduction Journal Background Illicit anabolic–androgenic steroid (AAS) use poses physical and psychosocial risks. These issues are exacerbated by inadequate public health responses and well-meaning yet inadequately tra...

A co-designed health conversation tool for AAS harm reduction.

@jasonferris22.bsky.social @chenealpuljevic.bsky.social @monicabarratt.bsky.social @emilystockings.bsky.social + many others.

@uqchsr.bsky.social
@griffithcmh.bsky.social
@matildacentreusyd.bsky.social

doi.org/10.1186/s129...

Cancer-causing properties found in steroids - Griffith News Dr Tim Piatkowski Lead and arsenic, which are known for their cancer-causing properties, have been found in an analysis of 15 anabolic-androgenic steroids

Lead and arsenic, which are known for their cancer-causing properties, have been found in an analysis of 15 anabolic-androgenic steroids with some levels well above safe exposure thresholds by @piatkowskitim.bsky.social

Research on illegal steroid use halted amid Queensland's drug testing ban | ABC NEWS YouTube video by ABC News (Australia)

In case you missed the video: youtu.be/4o3DsXy5w0g

Government to have talks with illegal steroid researcher amid drug testing ban A researcher who found "dangerous" toxic metals in illegal anabolic steroids is in talks the health department officials to continue his work despite Queensland's drug checking ban.

#ROIDCheck is a research program keeping Aussies safer - we look forward to discussions regarding its' national sustainability.

@uqchsr.bsky.social @griffithcmh.bsky.social @aivl.bsky.social @abcnewsbot.bsky.social

www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11...

@apsad-dar.bsky.social @apsad.bsky.social @apsad-emcr.bsky.social

Lived living experience exchanges are now Live in the sector!

@uqchsr.bsky.social @latrobeuni.bsky.social

Congratulations to our APSAD award winners:

Mentor Award - @jconigr.bsky.social
Mid Career Award - Delyse Hutchinson
First Peoples Award - Tina Taylor

#APSAD25 @apsad.bsky.social

@apsad.bsky.social
@apsad-dar.bsky.social
@uqchsr.bsky.social

#day3 kicking off with our amazing narcofeminists 💪🏻

@apsad.bsky.social
@apsad-emcr.bsky.social
@apsad-dar.bsky.social

Geoff presenting our important ODTP work!

Great to start with another smoking ceremony for our morning plenary session #APSAD25 @apsad.bsky.social

@apsad.bsky.social @apsad-emcr.bsky.social @apsad-dar.bsky.social
@chenealpuljevic.bsky.social educating is on illicit tobacco trade!

@uqchsr.bsky.social

A huge thank you to everyone who has reviewed for the journal, we wouldn’t be able to publish quality content without your help. Lovely to see everyone at the Friends of DAR event tonight

#APSAD25 @apsad.bsky.social

#APSAD2025

@apsad.bsky.social